Quixote is the main character in a novel written by Miguel de Cervantes, a Spanish author who lived from 1547 to 1616. Cervantes wrote the story in two parts. One was published in 1605; the second appeared shortly after his death.
Quixote has this irrepressible optimism about everyone and everything he sees. He rejects the idea of a "bad" person and insists there is good in everyone.
This perspective is especially vivid in Man of La Mancha, the musical adaptation of the Don Quixote story. In this stage version, Cervantes is in prison and recreates the Quixote story using those imprisoned with him.
The prisoners also play a cynical audience who loudly express doubts about Don Quixote's optimism. They initially dismiss Quixote as a hopeless romantic who doesn't understand human nature. At times, they wonder about his sanity.
But as the story unfolds, some of the cynicism melts. By the end of the play, Quxote has a group of fellow believers.
I've seen Man of La Mancha several times over the years. But I never made a connection to social work until I saw a production last year at Theatre Cedar Rapids.
One thing I think the story is emphasizing is the importance of focusing on possibilities rather than on the limitations. Isn't that what social work calls a strengths perspective? This perspective can have a profound influence on individuals, families and communities. Bill Sackter's life is one notable example of this. It got me thinking of "Quixotes" in the lives of people I know. For example, wasn't Barry Morrow the Quixote in Bill's life?
A second message from the story is that there will always be people around who will doubt the wisdom of a strengths approach. They are likely to view a "Quixote" as someone who's not very realistic about the human condition. Don Quixote is ridiculed as a silly dreamer for his insistence in seeing the potential in each person. His response: Each of us has a choice, his choice is to focus on a person's strengths and possibilities.
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22 comments:
I most definately agree with what Quixote's ascertained about the potential of each individual. No matter what our life circumstances or our limitations are, each of us has something to offer the world. It is indeed empowering to focus on the possibilities of a client or a situation, rather than the limitations. I too believe that there is no such thing as a bad person. Some of us, including myself, make bad choices but that does not mean that we are morally bad. The God that I believe in created the entire world good and it is only by our own choices that evil exists today. If everything was created good, then it would be apparent that there is good in all people no matter what. Quixote sounds like an interesting character and I will have to look into reading the book by Cervantes. Thanks for a great summer semester and I will look forward to seeing the postings from your other class to see how I can learn from them.
I do agree with Don Quixote and he was a man a head of his time. Focusing on limitations causes failure, it is much better to focus on a persons strengths and possibilities they can accomplish in life. There is good in everyone no matter how bad they were, I think everyone can change and make choices in their lives to better themselves if they are willing.
I can agree with the thinking of Don Quixote to a certain extent. While I would like to be more of the optimistic type person who could only see good in everything and everyone I also tend to feel there seems to always be a balance between good and bad or the Yin and Yang of the world. I do believe people who have a positive attitude have done more good in the world than a person who has a negative attitude.
Cyndi S
I too have always believed there is good in all of us. However, because of that, I seem to want to "save" the ones that may not know they have good in them. That for me can be a lesson, not everyone wants to believe that they have good in them. Therefore, do not want to be saved.
Reagan
I believe that there is good in all of us in some way or another. Ouixote saw a good in everyone and everything around him. People make bad choices and you have to look around them to see what type of a person they really are like because we all make mistakes in one time or another.
I think that it is good that a person should focus on the strengths and possiblities of someone else. And you will always have the people that will doubt you and doubt others but you sometimes have to look past that and look at their strengths and possiblities!!
If I were to create a list of "Plays for social workers" this is one which would be near the top of the list. Though you may not have seen "Man of La Mancha," you probably know one of the songs from the show. "Dream the impossible dream" is Don Q's outlook on life:
To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable burden
To run where the brave dare not go
To right the unrightable wrong.
Sounds almost like Superman (or maybe Super Grover). And people around him wonder about him. In another song, Dulcinea asks Don Q: "What do you want of me?"
Why does he batter at walls that don't break?
Why does he give when it's natural to take?
Where does he see all the good he can see?
Can you think of any movie or TV characters in our time who are like Don Q? How about people you know?
Tom
Lonnie
Don Q, a person who I believe should be admired by many. Many will agree with this; that there should be more people like him in the world & it may be a way better place to live. It doesn't surprise me that he was critisized, by many; because people are a lot of the times, Scared to believe in the good people, or things!
i believe this is one of the most important pieces of social work...understanding that there are reasons for behavior that extend beyond things that we could possibly comprehend and sometmes even understand....seeing the good in others may be an idealistic point of view but i believe it is this type of attitude that is soooo needed in this profession....if you don't believe that people, all people, have some sort of good in them, how can we possible expect to make a positive affect on this world and the people we are trying to help?
tammy granados
How wonderful to see the good side in all instead of the bad! What positives do we add to the mix? How can we reinforce the good to overcome the negative? If we all looked at each other to see the positive side we would not have to worry about trust and deceit issues. We would be busy building each other up intead of looking at all the ills one brings to the table, instead we would see all good one contibutes to life and to society as a whole. But those thoughts make people think you are to simple, you must be complex and full of negative energy, then people listen and wait for the next negative force you have to offer.
B Kirk
rachael hayenga
I do believe that Don Q. could have been considered a social worker in his time. He did not focus on a persons limitations, but the possiblities of what they could do. This is what social work is about, helping people see that if they put their mind to it, they can do anything.
I believe in what Quixote said, because in my eyes I see that even those who have done bad can have good in them too. Sometimes people just need to get some help from those of us "Quixote" people who believe in them. Thats where I see social work come into play, people helping other people. Even if Quixote seemed crazy for his ideas, everyone has their own choice. And even those who don't believe in it, have good in themselves somewhere!
Kayla N.
Don Q seems like a wonderful man, with his mind set towards people as there's a "good in everyone". Even though people quesitoned his thoughts Don Q didnt really care about what others thought about how he felt. Social work is about helping others and fixing certain problems that people are having. Now you dont have to be a social worker to help people, and Don Q shows that you dont have to be. Its all about having a caring and loving what you do and that is what Don Q was doing.
I think that he could have been a ocial worker because he gave people hope.
Callie P.
this seams like a man that i would get along with he has his own ideas and know what he wants even thought hes kind of a cyco at the begining he seams to be a good guy !!! Sara R :)
I think Don Q. could have been a social worker, I can see why people thought he was crazy, but he wanted to help people realize that you can change even if you have a bad past.
I like Quixotes' idea of looking at the possiblities than on the limitations. I believe that is a good way to look at life, it is a way of looking forward instead of standing in the present.
~ Kristi Schumacher ~
Wouldn't it be a much better place if eveyone had the same perspective as Don Q? To see the good in everyone. It seems as if today's world is more focused on the negitives rather the positives. We as a people could start by offering to everyone we see in life even if it's just a smile...
I beleive that seeing good in a person is a good tool. As a social worker I believe we need to see the whole picture. When we treat a client we usuallt treat a client as a whole the good and the bad. So, if we are to only look for the good in a person I believe we are setting the client and oursleves up for failure.
I do agree with Don Q, in the fact that there is good in all of us. However, I also feel that some people tend to let the "bad side" of them show through more than others. Don Q was a very interesting man.
Sept 12, 2007
Blog Don Q
"Possibilities rather than limitations", I like that statement. I have not read very much literature on Don Q.; however, from the short blog description and the description of his perspective that there is "no bad person" relates to my belief and love for our Lord, we are all God's children, and who are we to judge? Jesus met people where they were? Within my walk of life during my work day I meet many different people (clients) even those who most people consider "a very bad person." Although this person may have committed murder, rape, simple assault, burglary, domestic violence to a parking ticket, I try to meet each person where they are in their path of life! From the blog the description of Don Q. tells me he simply believed and believed in people. For those who say he is not realistic, well, they are the ones who probably don't know Him who I call my Lord whereas others may call their “higher power.” There is a song out called, Open My Heart to Your Eyes Lord or Open My Eyes to your Heart", either way if we just open our eyes and our heart we would all see that as Don Q. says , "each of us have a choice-his choice is to focus on a person's strengths and possibilities." As related to Social Work which would lead a person within their career to meet many different types of people in many different types of situations, I would think that remembering, "there is no bad person" would help the Social Worker keep his or her perspective.
Tammy Ackerman, Intro to SW
I agree with Quixote. I think there is good in everyone, you just have to dig deeper with some people. It takes a lot more energy to hate someone then to like them, and if you believe there is good in everyone you wont hate as many people. I dont think the Quixote was ahead of his time maybe he was just a kind man. I think that everyone needs to believe that there is good in everyone, and give everyone a chance.
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