Sancho Panza (fretwork figure)
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Sancho Panza (fretwork figure) |
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Arch Two , Area 58 Puppet Corner |
A wooden jointed figure of Sancho Panza, a character in Miguel de Cervantes' two-part novel, "The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha", created by an unknown manufacturer.
The figure is jointed so that the arms and legs move, as well as the legs of his faithful mule.
About the character
The character of Sancho Panza is a peasant in the unnamed village in La Mancha that Don Quixote lives in before his madness takes hold. Deciding that a knight-errant must require a squire, he asks Sancho Panza, who is not opposed to the idea. Throughout the stories Panza acts as a symbol of practicality against Quixote's idealism, helping him in his quest even when he doesn't buy into it. He begins the novel illiterate and proud of it but as the story progresses he slowly learns more and more through his association with his 'knight'.
A slightly tragic aspect of the character is that towards the end of the second novel Don Quixote becomes deeply ill and is taken to his deathbed - he survives, but recovers his sanity. Sancho Panza tries to bring him back to his delusions but is rebuffed, the two companions finally switching roles.
