In Man of La Mancha, the popular play based around the Spanish Inquisition, a man named Cervantes puts on a play while in prison based around Quinoa. Quinoa creates an alter ego, Don Quixote de la Mancha who is an idealist, and chooses to always look at the positive aspects of life. Don Quixote is extremely optimistic, and makes it his goal to bring joy to others no matter how foolish it makes him. Quixote’s idealistic attitude towards life makes him not fear rejection. He accepts it, and he is intent on convincing people that he really is a knight, despite the fact that knights are no longer around in this era, and the age of knights ended over three hundred years ago. Aldonza rejects ...view middle of the document...
Quixote said, “I hope to add some measure of grace to the world”(49). When he told Aldonza this he meant that the world can be a horrible place, but he wants to make it better, even if he only improves a few lives. Quixote is not oblivious to the hardships that people face, but he simply wants to help others and make them happy. Overall, Don Quixote de la Mancha is an idealist, and seeks joy and tries to spread happiness to others.
Anne Frank in the nonfiction biography, Anne Frank Diary of a Young Girl has many qualities that make her an idealist. Despite the harsh situation that she is in, she manages to remain an optimist. Anne is a young Jewish school girl growing up during the Holocaust who’s family is forced to go into hiding because of the Nazi reign over Germany and Holland. The Franks, The Van Danns, and Dussell all hide in an office building in Amsterdam until the Nazis find them and send them to concentration camps throughout Europe. Anne Frank is positive and cheerful, sheds light on difficult situations, and is also is outspoken. Anne Frank always makes her situation seem reasonable compared to others who have it worse. She is an idealist about their condition. Anne wrote, “Although it leans to one side and is damp, you’d never find such a comfortable hiding place in Amsterdam, no, perhaps not even in the whole of Holland. Our little room looked very bare at first with nothing on the walls; but thanks to Daddy who brought my film star collection and picture postcards on beforehand, and with the aid of paste pot and brush, I have transformed the walls into one gigantic picture”(20). When Anne writes this to her diary, she shows that despite the fact that the “Secret Annexe” had flaws and it is small and gloomy, she manages to transform it into a more cheerful place. Also, Ann is positive. She brings joy to others in the Annexe and helps brighten their days. After having a conversation with Peter Ann wrote, “‘You always do help me,’ he said. ‘How?’ I asked very surprised. ‘By your cheerfulness’”(181). This dialogue between the two of them shows how Anne helps makes the Annexe a better place. Living in a cramped house and having to be quiet all day makes the inhabitants of the Annexe very irritable, and many of them, including Anne suffer from depression, but like always she is upbeat, and manages to bring a smile to Peter’s face. Finally, an admirable quality of Anne that makes her an idealist is her opinionated views on the topics of discussion. She joins the adult’s discussions and ideas. Anne has a...
