The Truth about Sancho Panza

The Truth about Sancho Panza is a short story by Franz Kafka.^[1] As much a parable as a story, the short piece centers on the role of Sancho Panza, a principal character in Don Quixote. The narrator theorizes that Panza was in fact a well of tales, lore and wisdom, as well as having a particular demon to exorcise. In fact, while using up these witticisms, Panza succeeded in ridding himself of stories and tales on his mind, fed them to Quixote, and was thus able to live a full life without the burden.

Essentially, the tale views Panza as a source of inspiration, the real hero, and Quixote as a phony.

References

^ The great wall of China: stories and reflections. Franz Kafka. 1946. Schocken Books.

Works by Franz Kafka

Novels

Short stories

1902–12	"Shamefaced Lanky and Impure in Heart" "Description of a Struggle" Wedding Preparations in the Country The Judgment Contemplation The Stoker The Metamorphosis

1914–17	"In the Penal Colony" "The Village Schoolmaster" ("The Giant Mole") "Before the Law" "Blumfeld, an Elderly Bachelor" "The Warden of the Tomb" "A Country Doctor" "The Hunter Gracchus" "The Great Wall of China" "A Message from the Emperor" "A Report to an Academy" "A Dream" "Up in the Gallery" "A Fratricide" "The Next Village" "A Visit to a Mine" "Jackals and Arabs" "The Bridge" "The Bucket Rider" "The New Advocate" "An Old Manuscript" "The Knock at the Manor Gate" "Eleven Sons" "My Neighbor" "A Crossbreed" "The Cares of a Family Man"

1917–23	"The Refusal" "A Hunger Artist" "Investigations of a Dog" "A Little Woman" "The Burrow" "Josephine the Singer, or the Mouse Folk" "A Common Confusion" "The Truth about Sancho Panza" "The Silence of the Sirens" "Prometheus" "The City Coat of Arms" "Poseidon" "Fellowship" "At Night" "The Problem of Our Laws" "The Conscription of Troops" "The Test" "The Vulture" "The Helmsman" "The Top" "A Little Fable" "Home-Coming" "First Sorrow" "The Departure" "Advocates" "The Married Couple" "Give It Up!" "On Parables"

Short story
collections

Diaries and
notebooks

Letters

Professional
writings

The Office Writings

Bibliography