Don Quixote, the central character of Miguel de Cervantes's novel, becomes deeply absorbed in the tales he reads, leading to an overwhelming influence on his mind. His excessive reading leaves him sleep-deprived and with a diminished ability to think clearly, resulting in a wrecked sense of reality. The stories of knights, adventures, and romance become more vivid and significant to him than actual history, blurring the lines between fiction and reality in his mind.

This transformation drives Quixote to embark on his own quests, inspired by the fictions he cherishes. He sees the world through the lens of chivalric tales, believing that he must become a knight-errant to achieve glory and honor. His perceptions, shaped solely by fictional narratives, render him unable to distinguish between the mundane and the fantastical, emphasizing the profound impact that literature can have on one's identity and worldview.