La Gitanilla: The Little Gypsie

1. One of the quotes that taught me a great lesson or left me speechless was when Preciosa said “The oaths and promises which the captive makes to obtain his liberty are seldom fulfilled when he is free” (Cervantes, p. 17). I was hooked to this quote because they exist both in a long period of time and in tiny moments. A soldier could promise to always protect the country until he must choose life or death in front the enemies; sometimes they would promise that they will leak some secrets to redeem their freedom. They make two promises that contradict each other, but as soon as they escape the bind, meaning that they regain their freedom, they would try to deny the one promise. Sometimes, a person is peer pressured in saying compliments or make promises that they don’t necessarily believe in but had to due to expectations. Once they are free to speak their minds, they “fulfill” the promise by arguing that the promise was made simply as a tool to better themselves. As a result, we could see that some promises are made under peer pressure, and once that peer pressure releases, those promises fulfill themselves because they reached the deadline. Preciosa also applied this to love, stating that “and it is just the same, I fancy, with the lover, who to obtain his desire will promise the wings of Mercury, and the thunderbolts of Jove; and indeed a certain poet promised myself no less, and swore it by the Stygian lake” (Cervantes, p. 17). Once love disappears, all the promises that was made due to the love simply disappears similar to peer pressure. I think this is very applicable to every social interaction we have, and the promises we make.
2. Preciosa proposed that “the passion of love is an impetuous impulse, which violently distorts the current of the will, makes it dash furiously against all impediments. And recklessly pursue the desired object. But not unfrequently when the lover believes himself on the point f gaining the heaven of his wishes, he falls into the hell of disappointment. Or say that the object is obtained, the lover soon becomes wearied of his so much desired treasure, and opening pup eyes of his understanding hi finds that what before was so devoutly adored is now become abhorrent to him” (Cervantes, p. 8). This summarized many things, mainly those actions driven by impulse or passions. Preciosa argues that anything that connects to desire, that have either a physical body or a describable emotion, might not be necessary to a person after some time of consideration. Preciosa thinks that Don Juan’s love is simply driven by impulse and will slowly die off to nothing; she imposed a test on him to test his courage and persistence so he can prove that he is not acting on his impulse. This applies to many things in life, especially those who believes in “love at first sight”. Similar to Galen, Preciosa also believes in self- reflection after a long period of time to determine whether a desire is true and not impulse. Unfortunately, in modern society, completing a two-year trial like the one Don Juan had is too perfect- break ups can be initiated from both sides, and then they break up as a result of failed test.

1. Don Juan demonstrated many instances of jealousy throughout his gitanos journey. He cried “What should you imagine, Preciosa, but that the same power which has made me a gitano, has made him put on the dress of a miller, and come in search of you? Ah, Preciosa! How plain it begins to be that you pride yourself on having more than one adorer. If this be so, finish me first, and then kill of this other, but do not sacrifice both at the same time to your perfidy” (Cervantes, p. 20). Preciosa replied to him “how thin- skinned you are! On how fine a thread you make your hopes and my reputation hang, since you let the cruel sword of jealousy so easily pierce your soul” (Cervantes, p. 20). Preciosa has all the power in the world to adjourn the trial and “break up” like they most likely would in a modern society. Don Juan tried to please Preciosa most of the time, especially when he asked her to marry him: “What I would beg of you is that...” (Cervantes, p. 8). Preciosa has more control here, why did she choose to forgive Don Juan’s childishness and needs for attention? This to me foreshadows the problems that exist to the marriage system that exists during this time.
2. Preciosa told Christina before going into a room full of cavaliers that “what you have to beware of is one man alone; where there are so many there is nothing to fear. Of one thing you may be sure, Christina; the woman who is resolved to be upright may be so amongst an army of soldiers. It is well, indeed, to avoid occasions of temptation, but it is not in crowded rooms like this that danger lurks” (Cervantes, p. 3). She mentioned that one man alone is dangerous, but a group of men is okay. This conclusion is way to controversial, which led me to think that Preciosa doesn’t really know anything and her wit is just made up by her “grandmother” to make money. There aren’t many background information on where she learned these things nor how she came up with these conclusions, but the one above just seem very skeptical.

1. Are the roles of Clement and Carducha the same or different from each other?
2. Should we doubt love?