The Truth about Sancho Panza
Encyclopedia
The Truth about Sancho Panza is a short story
by Franz Kafka
. As much a parable
as a story, the short piece centers on the role of Sancho Panza
, a principal character in Don Quixote. The narrator theorizes that Panza was in fact a well of tales, lore
and wisdom, as well as having a particular demon
to exorcise. In fact, while using up these witticisms, Panza succeeded in ridding himself of stories and tales on his mind, fed them to Quixote, and was thus able to live a full life without the burden.
Essentially, the tale views Panza as a source of inspiration, the real hero
, and Quixote as a phony.
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
by Franz Kafka
Franz Kafka
Franz Kafka was a culturally influential German-language author of short stories and novels. Contemporary critics and academics, including Vladimir Nabokov, regard Kafka as one of the best writers of the 20th century...
. As much a parable
Parable
A parable is a succinct story, in prose or verse, which illustrates one or more instructive principles, or lessons, or a normative principle. It differs from a fable in that fables use animals, plants, inanimate objects, and forces of nature as characters, while parables generally feature human...
as a story, the short piece centers on the role of Sancho Panza
Sancho Panza
Sancho Panza is a fictional character in the novel Don Quixote written by Spanish author Don Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra in 1605. Sancho acts as squire to Don Quixote, and provides comments throughout the novel, known as sanchismos, that are a combination of broad humour, ironic Spanish proverbs,...
, a principal character in Don Quixote. The narrator theorizes that Panza was in fact a well of tales, lore
Lore
Lore may refer to:* Loré , a city and subdistrict in Lautém District* Lore , the region on each side of a birds face between eye and bill* Lore , a fictional android* Lore Sjöberg, an internet humourist...
and wisdom, as well as having a particular demon
Demon
call - 1347 531 7769 for more infoIn Ancient Near Eastern religions as well as in the Abrahamic traditions, including ancient and medieval Christian demonology, a demon is considered an "unclean spirit" which may cause demonic possession, to be addressed with an act of exorcism...
to exorcise. In fact, while using up these witticisms, Panza succeeded in ridding himself of stories and tales on his mind, fed them to Quixote, and was thus able to live a full life without the burden.
Essentially, the tale views Panza as a source of inspiration, the real hero
Hero
A hero , in Greek mythology and folklore, was originally a demigod, their cult being one of the most distinctive features of ancient Greek religion...
, and Quixote as a phony.