Don Quixote · Chapter
Chapter VIII: Of the good success which the valorous Don Quixote had in the most terrifying and never-to-be-imagined adventure of the windmills, with other events worthy of happy memory explained
Don Quixote mistakes two Benedictine friars for magicians carrying off a princess in a coach, attacks them, and then fights a Biscayan squire who defends the coach.
What happens
Don Quixote mistakes two Benedictine friars for magicians carrying off a princess in a coach, attacks them, and then fights a Biscayan squire who defends the coach. The battle is left unfinished as the author claims the source material ends abruptly, but a second author later finds the continuation.
Themes in this chapter
Reality vs. Illusion
Don Quixote sees friars as magicians and a coach as carrying a princess, while Sancho perceives the mundane reality.
Chivalry and Idealism
Don Quixote's insistence on rescuing a damsel and his formal speech to the lady exemplify his chivalric code.
Madness and Sanity
Don Quixote's delusional interpretation of events contrasts with Sancho's grounded warnings.
Characters to notice
- Don Quixote
Mistakes friars for magicians, attacks them, and fights the Biscayan squire, calling upon Dulcinea for aid.
- Sancho Panza
Warns Don Quixote about the friars, is beaten by the muleteers after trying to take spoils.
- Dulcinea del Toboso
Invoked by Don Quixote during the battle with the Biscayan.
- The Biscayan
Squire of the coach, fights Don Quixote with a sword and cushion.
- Rocinante
Don Quixote's horse, used in the charge against the friar.
- Dapple
Sancho's donkey, mentioned as he dismounts from it.
Key passages
“Your beauty, lady mine, may now dispose of your person as may be most in accordance with your pleasure, for the pride of your ravishers lies prostrate on the ground through this strong arm of mine; and lest you should be pining to know the name of your deliverer, know that I am called Don Quixote of La Mancha, knight-errant and adventurer, and captive to the peerless and beautiful lady Dulcinea del Toboso”
Don Quixote tells the lady in the coach she is free to go, introduces himself as a knight-errant devoted to Dulcinea, and asks her to report his deed to Dulcinea.
Don Quixote's formal chivalric speech to the rescued lady.
“But it spoils all, that at this point and crisis the author of the history leaves this battle impending, giving as excuse that he could find nothing more written about these achievements of Don Quixote than what has been already set forth.”
The narrative breaks off mid-battle because the original author claims no further records exist.
Metafictional interruption where the narrator explains the missing source material.