Real Life And Fiction

Like Frye and Dr. Sexson, Nabokov began his lectures on Don Quixote with a warning to "avoid the fatal error of looking for so-called 'real-life' in novels" ("Lectures on Don Quixote" Nabokov 1). We are not to try to discern fact from fiction or vice versa in any novel. A fairy tale is a fairy tale that takes place in it's own world, and therefore cannot really speak to the world of the reader, which he considers to be his reality.

But, if we are honest with ourselves, all realities are tainted by fiction. Which is why as a preface to his lectures Nabokov warns the listener that "there is no use looking in these books for detailed factual representation of so-called 'real-life'" (Nabokov 2). In this way, the when and where of Don Quixote have no real importance. The "where" is Spain, but a ficticious Spain. The time period is the early 17th century, but the events are fictious. Nabokov gives a very breif introduction to the when and where of the book, as well as general criticism, the author introduction, and form... brief enough to answer any general questions, but then he veers away from "generalities", and casts them all aside to deal with the hero of the novel. With all predictable questions about the "real life" of the novel answered, he can freely begin to discuss "fiction": beginning with the portraits of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza.