"To dream the impossible dream, to fight the unbeatable foe, to bear with unbearable
sorrow, to run where the brave dare not go." This quote sung by Don Quixote exemplifies the
message of the story of Don Quixote. His courageous quest has been an inspiration to people for
over 400 years. There are notable differences between the book written by Miguel Cervantes
and the Broadway musical. Some of these differences are how Dulciana is portrayed and
interacts with Don Quixote, Don Quixote's journeys and encounters, and how the story
concludes. They both have a positive message of reaching for your desires without letting reality
In both the play and the book, Don Quixote is intrigued by Aldonsa. In the book the only
mention of Aldonsa is that she is a poor farm girl whom Don Quixote fights for. In the play she
is a much more involved character. First of all she is portrayed as a kitchen slut with no hope of
becoming anything more. When Don Quixote first sees her he thinks she is the most beautiful
lady he has ever seen. He treats her as some kind of goddess. He calls her Dulciana and even
sings her a love song. She begins to believe that she is something more than she thinks she is.
Don Quixote came as an inspiration to change Aldonsa's life around.
In both the play and the book, Don Quixote's quest leads him all over Spain. A common
thread in both the play and the book is the story of Don Quixote and the windmills. This story
tells of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza approaching a hill with several windmills. Don Quixote
thinks that they are giants getting ready to attack him. Sancho Panza tries to change Don
Quixote's mind, but he attacks anyway. Don Quixote ends up getting hurt rather badly in the
process. Sancho Panza asks why he attacked them. Don Quixote replies by telling him that the
monsters changed into windmills at the last second t...