Middle Chapters: Don Ana's Father

[Stephanie]

When Don Juan and the Marquis ride out to meet the Don Ana's father in the country, the Commander tries to kill Don Juan (p. 175). Why does he hate Don Juan? What different values have the two men devoted their lives to?

---

Reply to this message to discuss any of these topics. Or start your own new topic by clicking "New Message."

Note: This topic refers to events through the chapter titled "The Truth" (through p. 179). Some readers of this thread may not have finished the book. If you are referring to events that occur after "The Truth" please use "Spoiler Warning" in the subject line of your post. Thanks!

[smg5775]

---

Stephanie wrote:

When Don Juan and the Marquis ride out to meet the Don Ana's father in the country, the Commander tries to kill Don Juan (p. 175). Why does he hate Don Juan? What different values have the two men devoted their lives to?

He sees in Don Juan someone who does not have a value system, or one that the Commander can relate to, and sees him as a threat to his daughter and society. The Commander also sees Don Juan as a degenerate who goes against everything the Commander has been taught to value. The Commander is conservative in his views and politics while Don Juan is liberal. You could compare them to a 1960's American household-- Dad is conservative and wants his son to cut his hair, get a job, and don't protest in the streets (the Commander) while the son wants long hair, bell-bottoms, drugs, sex, and rock'n roll--anything anti-Establishment (Don Juan).

[DouglasAbrams]

---

smg5775 wrote:

---

Stephanie wrote:

When Don Juan and the Marquis ride out to meet the Don Ana's father in the country, the Commander tries to kill Don Juan (p. 175). Why does he hate Don Juan? What different values have the two men devoted their lives to?

He sees in Don Juan someone who does not have a value system, or one that the Commander can relate to, and sees him as a threat to his daughter and society. The Commander also sees Don Juan as a degenerate who goes against everything the Commander has been taught to value. The Commander is conservative in his views and politics while Don Juan is liberal. You could compare them to a 1960's American household-- Dad is conservative and wants his son to cut his hair, get a job, and don't protest in the streets (the Commander) while the son wants long hair, bell-bottoms, drugs, sex, and rock'n roll--anything anti-Establishment (Don Juan).

---

Sheila, I like your comparison to the 1960s family. I also thought of it as duty vs. passion. Two of the perennial values that most people must struggle with.