Zapata Claveria, Javier2024-01-052024-01-052023-06https://hdl.handle.net/11299/259686University of Minnesota Ph.D. dissertation. June 2023. Major: Hispanic and Luso Literatures, Cultures & Linguistics. Advisors: Nicholas Spadaccini, Raúl Marrero-Fente. 1 computer file (PDF); iii, 191 pages.This thesis aims to examine various soundscapes in the novel Don Quixote of La Mancha to demonstrate that the author's use of acoustic elements goes beyond mere aesthetic considerations. Instead, these elements serve as a means to understand the intricate social fabric of imperial Spain, shedding light on their relationship with Cervantes' life and overall literary work. To achieve this goal, the research adopts two distinct approaches to the acoustic phenomenon. Firstly, it conducts an in-depth analysis of sound elements in specific chapters that pertain to Cervantes' biographical events, such as "La historia del cautivo" and the "Retablo de Maese Pedro," exploring their impact on memory, testimony, and trauma. Secondly, the study delves into the concept of "acoustic regime," elucidating how soundscapes are organized and regulated within a particular cultural context and timeframe. This perspective provides valuable insights into the social and political practices of early modern Spain, encompassing aspects like imperial political propaganda and the patriarchal regime. By focusing on sound as a revealing and unexplored aspect of the novel, this dissertation contributes to a deeper understanding of Don Quixote of La Mancha and its broader significance in the context of Spanish society during the era of its creation.esCervantesEarly Modern SpainSoundscapeThesis or Dissertation