Don Quixote · Chapter
Which tells how adventures came crowding on Don Quixote in such numbers that they gave one another no breathing-time. explained
Don Quixote and Sancho, having left the Duke's castle, discuss freedom and gratitude.
What happens
Don Quixote and Sancho, having left the Duke's castle, discuss freedom and gratitude. They encounter laborers carrying religious images (Saint George, Saint Martin, and a patron saint of Spain), which Don Quixote praises as knights-errant. Later, they meet shepherds and shepherdesses in a pastoral setting, and Don Quixote offers to defend the beauty of the ladies present (except Dulcinea) for two days. A herd of bulls then charges and tramples them. After recovering, they are invited to a pastoral gathering where Don Quixote delivers a speech on gratitude and reiterates his offer.
Themes in this chapter
Chivalry and Idealism
Don Quixote interprets religious images as knights-errant and offers to defend the beauty of shepherdesses in a chivalric challenge, demonstrating his idealistic worldview.
Madness and Sanity
Sancho defends Don Quixote's sanity, while the onlookers are left wondering whether he is mad or rational, especially after his defiant stand against the bulls.
Friendship and Loyalty
Sancho's loyalty is evident as he defends his master's actions and stands by him despite the danger.
Characters to notice
- Don Quixote
Delivers a speech on freedom and gratitude; praises religious knights; offers to defend the beauty of the shepherdesses; is trampled by bulls but persists.
- Sancho Panza
Carries the duke's gold crowns; comments on the images; shields himself behind Rocinante during the bull charge; defends his master's sanity.
- Dulcinea del Toboso
Referenced as the peerless lady of Don Quixote's thoughts, excepted from his praise of the shepherdesses.
- Rocinante
Trampled by the bulls along with Don Quixote and Sancho.
- Dapple
Belaboured during the bull charge.
- Altisidora
Mentioned as the source of attentions from which Don Quixote feels relieved at the start of the chapter.
Key passages
“Freedom, Sancho, is one of the most precious gifts that heaven has bestowed upon men; no treasures that the earth holds buried or the sea conceals can compare with it; for freedom, as for honour, life may and should be ventured; and on the other hand, captivity is the greatest evil that can fall to the lot of man.”
Don Quixote tells Sancho that freedom is the greatest gift from heaven, worth more than any treasure, and that captivity is the worst evil.
Don Quixote reflects on the value of freedom after leaving the Duke's castle.
“One of the greatest sins that men are guilty of is—some will say pride—but I say ingratitude, going by the common saying that hell is full of ingrates.”
Don Quixote declares that ingratitude is a major sin, even worse than pride, and that hell is filled with ungrateful people.
Don Quixote delivers a speech on gratitude at the pastoral gathering.