# Chapter II: Which treats of the first sally the ingenious Don Quixote made from home explained — Don Quixote > Chapter companion for Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. ## What happens Don Quixote sets out on his first adventure before dawn, riding Rocinante. He worries about not being a knight, but decides to have himself dubbed by the first person he meets. He travels all day, imagining himself as a chivalric hero, and arrives at an inn which he believes to be a castle. The innkeeper and two women help him remove his armor, and he eats a meager meal while maintaining his helmet, convinced he is in a grand castle. ## Themes in this chapter ### Reality vs. Illusion Don Quixote perceives the inn as a castle, the innkeeper as a castellan, the prostitutes as ladies, and the stockfish as trout, illustrating his delusional reinterpretation of reality. ### Chivalry and Idealism Don Quixote's entire sally is driven by chivalric ideals: he seeks to right wrongs, redress grievances, and be dubbed a knight, imitating the language and behavior of his beloved romances. ### Literature and Metafiction Don Quixote imagines a future 'sage' writing his history, and he quotes and adapts ballads like that of Lancelot, highlighting the self-referential and literary nature of his adventure. ## Character check-ins ### Don Quixote Don Quixote makes his first sally from home, riding Rocinante and imagining himself as a knight. He is preoccupied with the need to be dubbed a knight and speaks to himself in chivalric language, addressing Dulcinea and the future chronicler of his deeds. ### Rocinante Don Quixote's horse, described as the best bit of flesh that ever ate bread, though the innkeeper finds him less impressive. ### Dulcinea del Toboso Don Quixote addresses her as 'Princess Dulcinea, lady of this captive heart,' lamenting her scorn and banishing him from her presence. ### The Innkeeper The innkeeper, whom Don Quixote mistakes for a castellan, is described as a crafty Andalusian. He humors Don Quixote's delusions and helps him with his horse and meal. ### Maritornes One of the women at the inn who assists Don Quixote in removing his armor and feeding him, though she is not named in this chapter. ## Key lines > Scarce had the rubicund Apollo spread o'er the face of the broad spacious earth the golden threads of his bright hair... Don Quixote imagines a poetic description of dawn, with Apollo spreading golden light and birds singing, as he begins his journey. _This shows Don Quixote's tendency to romanticize his mundane actions in the style of chivalric romances._ > O Princess Dulcinea, lady of this captive heart, a grievous wrong hast thou done me to drive me forth with scorn... Don Quixote addresses Dulcinea, lamenting that she has banished him and asking her to remember him. _He speaks as if he is a love-stricken knight, though Dulcinea is a figment of his imagination based on a peasant woman._ > My armour is my only wear, My only rest the fray. Don Quixote tells the innkeeper that his armor is his clothing and battle is his rest. _He quotes a chivalric ballad to justify his refusal to remove his armor, reinforcing his knightly persona._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-i-ii - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/don_quixote_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters