Can a Don Quixote exist in the 20th century? Graham Greene decided to experiment with Monsignor Quixote, a novel about the descendent of Don Quixote. Monsignor Quixote is a Spanish cleric and is friends with a man named Sancho similar to his ancestor. Sancho happens to be a communist ex-Mayor instead of a simple peasant which is a subtle parallel-Cervantes' Sancho by the end of the novel is an ex-governor. After a charitable act towards a visiting bishop, Quixote is given the title Monsignor, even though he would prefer to be just a padre. When Father Quixote is forced from his parish by his bishop, he and Sancho leave and tour Spain. This book brings in discussion of Franco, Stalin, Marxism, religion, belief and the Bible transforming the Quixote/Sancho relationship into a discussion of religious belief versus skepticism. Father Quixote stresses the importance of faith; Sancho views faith merely as illusion. Religion, here, ends up equated with idealism-like idealism, Sancho thinks it to be fantasy, but learns the benefits of belief as well. .
Father Quixote is presented at the beginning of Greene's novel as a model priest. He is humble, honorable and loving, in contrast to his superior, the Bishop. Father Quixote's religion seems unshakeable, a testament to his knowledge of numerous Inspired Works. However Father Quixote seems to know only his books and some of the surrounding town. In some ways Father Quixote is blissfully ignorant of the workings of the modern world, which is soon revealed to him on his journey with Sancho. These revelations to Father Quixote show him that the world is rather more complex then he was led to believe. This leads to Father Quixote questioning his faith, in small ways, then increasingly larger ones. But Quixote never ceases to believe in God, his faith is doubted but strengthened and changed by his experiences outside of his hometown. Father Quixote's faith remains until his death, as evidenced by his somnambulant Mass which is an expression of his subconscious dream state.
