During his chivalric adventures in the novel Don Quixote encounters many characters who indulge his fantasies as well as characters who attempt to persuade Quixote of the folly of his activities. One such character of rationality is Doctor Carrasco, who explains "There are no giants. No kings under enchantment. No chivalry. No knights. There have been no knights for three hundred years" to which Quixote replies "Facts are the enemy of truth! ” This brief exchange embodies the true conflict of the novel; reason versus faith. At the time the novel was written, Europe was caught in the midst of the Renaissance, a social movement centered on the conflict between reason and faith, reason was interchangeable, however during Renaissance Europeans began to move more towards scientific and reason-based thinking. On the surface, Cervantes's ferocious satire on the chivalric ideals found in the books that Don Quixote reads so lovingly seems to support the humanist turn away from faith however, the novel he actually proposes a much more sophisticated opinion arguing the merits of both the rational and the fantastic by juxtaposing the faithful character of Don Quixote with his rational sidekick Sancho and making each character's unique traits interchangeable Cervantes asserts his favor an individual quest based on both reason and faith. Cervantes quickly establishes Don Quixote as a ridiculous character, so consumed by the chivalric and romantic myths found in the novels he reads that he neglects his responsibilities, his family, and his heritage. The absurdity of Quixote's attempts to become a noble knight-errant becomes apparent when he advances on his pathetic steed, Rocianante, with rusty armor and a mak... middle of paper... initially rebels against Quixote's whims. Because his pragmatic character naturally contests the aspect of Quixote's character that Cervantes so often mocks, the novel also gives credit to the spirit of reason that Sancho embodies. So, if Cervantes' novel places value on reason and faith, two very contradictory ideologies, what school of thought does he ultimately support? Cervantes adds a further shade of complexity to his novel that affirms his favor of both reason and faith together. Initially, Quixote is the man of faith and Sancho of reason. However, as the plot progresses, we see Sancho and Quixote develop a mutual respect as each other's defining characteristics become interchangeable. Sancho's skepticism ultimately helps to further disillusion Quixote as he himself becomes seduced by the knight's wild imagination..