Don Quixote · Chapter
Of the second sally of our worthy knight Don Quixote of La Mancha explained
Don Quixote wakes from a dream shouting about a tourney, and the curate and barber calm him.
What happens
Don Quixote wakes from a dream shouting about a tourney, and the curate and barber calm him. The housekeeper burns many of his books, and the curate and barber wall up the room where the books were, telling Don Quixote a magician named Fristón took them. After fifteen quiet days, Don Quixote persuades his neighbor Sancho Panza to become his squire by promising him an island. They secretly set out at night, with Sancho riding his donkey, and Don Quixote reiterates his promise of a governorship.
Themes in this chapter
Reality vs. Illusion
Don Quixote's madness leads him to believe a magician stole his books, while the curate and barber deliberately create an illusion to manage his delusions.
Madness and Sanity
Don Quixote's raving and continued belief in knight-errantry contrast with the pragmatic actions of the curate and barber, who try to cure him through deception.
Chivalry and Idealism
Don Quixote's revival of knight-errantry and his promise of an island to Sancho reflect his idealistic view of chivalric rewards and adventures.
Social Class and Identity
Sancho Panza, a poor laborer, is promised a governorship, highlighting the social mobility fantasy inherent in Don Quixote's chivalric worldview.
Characters to notice
- Don Quixote
Wakes from a dream raving about a tourney; later accepts the story that a magician stole his books; recruits Sancho Panza as his squire and sets out on his second sally.
- Sancho Panza
A poor laborer neighbor who agrees to become Don Quixote's squire, lured by promises of an island governorship; leaves his family and rides his donkey on the journey.
- The Priest
Helps calm Don Quixote after his raving; participates in walling up the book room and later engages in discussions with Don Quixote about knight-errantry.
- Master Nicholas
The barber who assists the curate in walling up the book room and in discussing knight-errantry with Don Quixote.
- The Housekeeper
Burns all the books in the yard and house; later tells Don Quixote that a magician named Muñatón (corrected to Fristón) took the books.
- The Niece
Helps deceive Don Quixote by claiming a magician on a serpent stole the books and room; advises her uncle to stay home peacefully.
Key passages
“One of the remedies which the curate and the barber immediately applied to their friend’s disorder was to wall up and plaster the room where the books were, so that when he got up he should not find them (possibly the cause being removed the effect might cease), and they might say that a magician had carried them off, room and all;”
The curate and barber walled up the book room to remove the source of Don Quixote's madness, planning to blame a magician for the disappearance.
This illustrates the theme of reality vs. illusion as the characters create a false narrative to manage Don Quixote's delusions.
“Don Quixote, among other things, told him he ought to be ready to go with him gladly, because any moment an adventure might occur that might win an island in the twinkling of an eye and leave him governor of it.”
Don Quixote promised Sancho that an adventure could instantly win him an island to govern.
This shows Don Quixote's idealistic promises and the theme of chivalry and idealism.
“Sancho rode on his ass like a patriarch, with his alforjas and bota, and longing to see himself soon governor of the island his master had promised him.”
Sancho traveled on his donkey, carrying supplies and eagerly anticipating becoming governor of the promised island.
Highlights Sancho's pragmatic yet hopeful character and the social class theme.
