Now Rocinante is the name of the not so mighty nag of Don Quixote de la Mancha. Besides the fact that both Rocinantes transport people from adventure to adventure, there\u2019s not much similarity beyond the name. It does, however, hint at a number of interesting signifiers that relates Iberian History and Literature which I touch on below.<\/p>\n Don Quixote is plagued by Enchanters, James Holden is plagued by an unknown Forces<\/strong><\/p>\n In the first episode we see James Holden, the Executive Officer of The Canterbury, and a small crew launch off their main ship on a small craft to investigate a distress signal. Shortly after discovering that the signal was likely designed to get their main ship to stop its path \u2013 a cloaked ship destroys the Canterbury.<\/p>\n A number of Don Quixote\u2019s adventures consist of him misinterpreting circumstances around him for situations that require him to intervene. These interventions, however, don\u2019t actually assist those that he imagines in need of help and result in him getting hurt. The viral spread of Holden\u2019s video denouncing the Martians mirrors the publication of Don Quixote part II in Don Quixote Part II In book two of Don Quixote, the eponymous character learns that the tales of his adventures have been published and he meets many people that are aware of who he is. Quixote does not mind this, but he does take qualm upon learning that a sequel, published by Alonso Fern\u00e1ndez de Avellaneda, is also available for purchase at booksellers stalls and that it contains many falsehoods. Don Quixote criticizes this False Quixote and even adjusts some of his behaviors so as to not be mistaken for the fake one. Episode 7, titled Windmills, features a copy of Cervantes\u2019 Quixote that is the brief subject of conversation between Holden\u2019s mother and Avasarala<\/strong><\/p>\n That\u2019s mostly it in the headline. The only additional comment worth making is how it is that here we learn that Holden doesn\u2019t, according to his mother, recognize Don Quixote as a tragedy. While I\u2019d argue that Don Quixote isn\u2019t tragedy \u2013 though it does has elements of it \u2013 it\u2019s interesting that this comment is made to provide insight into Holden\u2019s character.<\/p>\n The Geographic relationship between the Outer Belt and the Core Planets mirrors that of Spain and the Colonies<\/strong><\/p>\n Placing the two maps side by side ought to suffice to illustrate this point.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n However I think that it\u2019s worth reinforcing this point through the below one.<\/p>\n The Economic relationship between the Outer Belt and the Core Planets mirrors that of Spain and it\u2019s Colonies<\/strong><\/p>\n The Outer Planets exist in a relationship to Earth of complete economic dependence. Air and the technologies needed to survive are scarce. Belters lives on the physical and technical periphery of interplanetary trade. It is a large part of the reason that they have organized themselves into economic\/political alliance. Why? Because resource extraction seems to be the primary economic activity and thus they are for the most part\u00a0the suzerain partner to the much larger state. The Belt\u00a0clearly demonstrates the\u00a0qualities of a periphery as\u00a0described in a historical context in Fernando Henrique Cardoso\u2019s Dependency and Development in Latin America<\/a> and Immanuel Wallerstein\u2019s Modern World Systems series<\/a>. The OPA Symbol is the IWA Symbol<\/strong><\/p>\n The International Workers Association, also called the First Internationale, was an umbrella group for Anarchist and Socialist groups organizing in Europe founded in 1864. It was internationalist in orientation, but split into two main factions that disagreed whether or not to engage in parliamentary struggle or not. The faction supporting Mikhail Bakunin – the wing that rejected such struggles and which would later advocate for propaganda by the deed in the form of bombings and assassinations found it\u2019s most numerous and vibrant following in Spain.<\/p>\n *![\"Rocinante\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/arielsheen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Screen-Shot-2016-02-06-at-4.01.50-PM.png?ssl=1\")
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\nIt was upon viewing this name change that a number of previous events in the show took on a new meaning. Tachi is the name of the Mars Class ship that allows James Holden, Naomi Nagata and others to escape attack by an as of yet unknown enemy. Following escape from the battle, the ship is piloted to Tycho Station, an area controlled by Fred Johnson and the Outer Planet Alliance.<\/p>\n
\nNow, I don\u2019t believe that Holden is a variant or new incarnation of Quixote. From what we know of his character he\u2019s not obsessed with knight-errantry or some other sort of fiction. However, following the death of his crewmates on the Canterbury which he blames himself for, he does seem to gain greater moral agency by uncovering and revealing the REAL truth about the Canterbury \u2013 which he is not yet aware of.<\/p>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nHolden\u2019s transmits a video denouncing the Martians for their purported blowing up of the Canterbury. This video makes him known far and wide. Upon encountering Martian consumers of the material, however, this fame is turned into infamy. He later realizes that they are not the one responsible and thus tries to correct the false image of him that exists in people\u2019s minds.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n
\nWhile there are numerous allusions to this dynamic within the conversations of the characters I could quote, I found the graphic depiction of this relationship as illustrated following the capture of an OPA smuggler by United Nations forces to be particularly compelling.Chrisjen Avasarala, a powerful UN executive, submits the smuggler to gravity torture. His body is so distorted that literally can\u2019t even stand up on his own \u2013 thus drastically limiting the possibilities for occupational development elsewhere. This is the curse of many a export economy, which is unable to develop a middle class due to underdevelopment.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/em><\/p>\n
\nI don\u2019t mean by the above to put forward an argument that claims that Iberian History and Culture are as influential to The Expanse as Game of Thrones is to the War of the Roses – as shown below – but merely to shows some interesting overlaps that I noticed\u00a0with an area of my study.
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