Don Quixote , Masculinity , And Gender Roles ; How Not Conforming Saved Sancho .
So . This is where my life is , huh ? I can't complain .
( this is likely sooooo wrong but I wanna talk anyways. )
Lets get started with DonQui's design .
If you take a look , she chooses to look androgynous . Not overtly masculine , but not overtly feminine either .
Her figure is very boxy outside of her face .
This is caused by her coat and wider shoulders , which leads the viewer into thinking " masculinely " .
If you look up , her very round face , hair , and eyes are all traditionally feminine . She has very prominent eyelashes and starry pupils , creating a very " cutesy " look .
She has mixed elements of gender that are both shown in other sinners .
I will be using Heathcliff and Rodion as my examples .
Although Don's stature is smaller , you can clearly see the boxy frame . Her curves are a given , but they are the only thing stopping her from fully capturing the masculine body .
Prominent eyelashes and round shape , traditional feminine things that Rodion possesses . Don shares these traits , to a lesser degree .
__________________________________________________
Now lets move onto my interesting comparison , Dulcinea .
If we take a look at her design ,
She is very feminine . Long dress , long hair , prominent eyelashes , and the body .
She is everything Don is not .
And yet , she is miserable . A prize , a part of the parade , not a person .
A part of her dialogue goes as follows ,
"I am Dulcinea, the most beautiful... the most noble... I was given the role of the Carnival's Lady. I do not lead it; I am but another attraction of the Parade."
The role of the Carnival's Lady , I am but another attraction of the Parade .
She is gender conforming , a beautiful woman to be gawked and gazed at .
She is not a woman , not a person , but an object , a part of the Parade .
This is something Sancho did not confirm to .
If we take a look at Sancho , she chooses to present VERY masculinely .
Almost the role of a prince , not unlike Dulcinea's princess .
The difference is , Sancho is not conforming to the whims of the Parade .
Sancho had been sent away with Bari , drinking from the river and forgetting everything.
Even through this transformation , she had still chosen to look androgynously .
Through everything , she had resisted temptation and fought on .
Dulcinea conformed and was forcibly objectified .
Sancho fought and won her right to her name and freedom .
Don quixote , Sancho , whoever she is , she is a free woman who chose that freedom .
Hero , not heroine .