Don Quixote · Chapter
XXXII Which treats of what befell Don Quixote's party at the inn explained
Don Quixote's party arrives at the inn, where Don Quixote goes to sleep.
What happens
Don Quixote's party arrives at the inn, where Don Quixote goes to sleep. The landlady demands the return of her tail from the barber, and the group discusses Don Quixote's madness, blaming books of chivalry. The landlord defends these books, and the curate examines the inn's collection, finding two chivalric romances he deems false and a true history of the Great Captain. The curate then begins reading a manuscript titled 'Novel of the Ill-advised Curiosity' to the company.
Themes in this chapter
Literature and Metafiction
The chapter features a discussion about the nature and value of chivalric romances versus true histories, and the curate reads a manuscript novel within the main narrative, highlighting the self-referential and layered storytelling.
Reality vs. Illusion
The innkeeper and his family enjoy chivalric tales as if real, while the curate and barber dismiss them as lies, reflecting the central conflict between Don Quixote's delusions and the pragmatic views of others.
Social Class and Identity
Characters from different social backgrounds (innkeeper, landlady, daughter, servant) all engage with chivalric literature, showing how such stories transcend class boundaries and shape identity.
Characters to notice
- Don Quixote
Arrives at the inn and goes to sleep, exhausted from his adventures.
- Sancho Panza
Reluctantly enters the inn, overhears the discussion about chivalry, and considers abandoning his master if the journey does not succeed.
- The Innkeeper
Defends books of chivalry, shares his love for hearing them read, and shows the curate his collection of books and manuscripts.
- The Innkeeper's Daughter
Expresses her enjoyment of chivalric tales, particularly the laments of knights separated from their ladies.
- Maritornes
Relishes hearing chivalric stories, especially romantic scenes under orange trees.
- The Priest
Leads the discussion about Don Quixote's madness, examines the inn's books, and begins reading the 'Novel of the Ill-advised Curiosity' aloud.
Key passages
“for in truth to my mind there is no better reading in the world, and I have here two or three of them, with other writings that are the very life, not only of myself but of plenty more; for when it is harvest-time, the reapers flock here on holidays, and there is always one among them who can read and who takes up one of these books, and we gather round him, thirty or more of us, and stay listening to him with a delight that makes our grey hairs grow young again.”
The innkeeper claims that chivalric books are the best reading, bringing joy to him and many others, as during harvest festivals, reapers gather to listen to someone read aloud, feeling rejuvenated.
The innkeeper defends chivalric romances, illustrating their communal and uplifting role in rural life.
“I cannot understand how that can be, for in truth to my mind there is no better reading in the world, and I have here two or three of them, with other writings that are the very life, not only of myself but of plenty more;”
The innkeeper expresses confusion that such books could cause madness, as he finds them the most enjoyable and life-giving reading.
The innkeeper's perspective contrasts with the curate's view that chivalric books are harmful.
“Brother, said the curate, those two books are made up of lies, and are full of folly and nonsense; but this of the Great Captain is a true history, and contains the deeds of Gonzalo Hernández of Cordova, who by his many and great achievements earned the title all over the world of the Great Captain, a famous and illustrious name, and deserved by him alone;”
The curate explains that two of the books are fictional and foolish, while the history of the Great Captain is a truthful account of a renowned military leader.
The curate distinguishes between fictional chivalric tales and historical accounts, reinforcing the theme of reality versus illusion.
