Don Quixote 

Here, in Gustave Doré's illustration, the figures of Sancho Panza and Don Quixote take on a life that transcends the printed page. Observe Sancho, his arm outstretched towards a vision of glory. This gesture, laden with ambition and the promise of upward mobility, echoes the classical motif of the raised hand, a symbol of power and divine blessing seen in ancient Roman art. But here, it is repurposed, even satirized. The glory Sancho envisions is not divine, but the fleeting illusion of chivalric romance. Consider how collective memory and subconscious desires play into this image. Sancho’s longing for glory, fueled by Don Quixote’s tales, is a potent force, engaging us on a deep, subconscious level. This vision of glory contrasts sharply with the grounded reality of their surroundings. The motif of aspiration, here entangled with delusion, is a recurring theme throughout art history, appearing in various guises and continually evolving in meaning.