Capítulo
19 |
Aventura principal: el cuerpo muerto:
Among the many occasions in Don Quixote when the expression “woeful countenance” is used to mean sad face, there are many in which this appearance is linked to a lack of molars and incisors.
The extensive lack of molars and incisors in Don Quixote’s mouth led to a loss of height in the lower third of his face (VD), sunken cheeks and lips, and thus a heightening of his aged appearance, which already existed due to his age and thin build.
In any face, the loss of molars and incisors, along with decreased vertical dimension, results in a sharp increase in the depth of the inter-labial and buccal-inter-labial sulci, and so two lower-concave arches appear on the face which, in conjunction with the wrinkled orbital arch, give any face an appearance of constant sadness—exactly what Cervantes was seeking to describe in his hero’s face.
Capítulo 20: |
Indice-Primera Parte |