Don Quixote · Chapter
Of what passed between Don Quixote and his squire Sancho on the way to their village explained
Don Quixote and Sancho Panza journey home after Don Quixote's defeat.
What happens
Don Quixote and Sancho Panza journey home after Don Quixote's defeat. Sancho laments not being paid for curing Altisidora, and Don Quixote proposes that Sancho whip himself to disenchant Dulcinea, offering payment per lash. Sancho agrees, and they stop in a grove where Sancho begins the whipping, but he mostly strikes trees and groans dramatically. Don Quixote, moved by Sancho's cries, stops him after about a thousand lashes, fearing for his life. They later stay at an inn where Don Quixote comments on paintings of Helen and Dido, showing his continued chivalric idealism.
Themes in this chapter
Reality vs. Illusion
Don Quixote's rational behavior at the inn contrasts with his earlier delusions; he now recognizes the inn as a hostelry, not a castle. Yet he still imagines himself intervening in the stories of Helen and Dido.
Chivalry and Idealism
Don Quixote's lament that he was not born in the age of Helen and Dido shows his persistent chivalric idealism, wishing to right ancient wrongs.
Friendship and Loyalty
Don Quixote's concern for Sancho's well-being during the whipping, stopping him to prevent harm, highlights their bond and mutual care.
Characters to notice
- Don Quixote
Downcast from defeat but hopeful about Sancho's virtue; negotiates payment for Sancho's self-whipping to disenchant Dulcinea; shows rational thought at the inn, yet still laments not being born in the age of Helen and Dido.
- Sancho Panza
Grieves over Altisidora's broken promise of smocks; bargains for payment per lash; cunningly whips trees instead of himself, groaning loudly to deceive Don Quixote; stops when Don Quixote intervenes.
- Dulcinea del Toboso
Mentioned as the object of the disenchantment that Sancho's whipping is meant to achieve; Don Quixote hopes for her restoration.
- Altisidora
Referenced as having been resurrected by Sancho's whipping; Sancho is upset she did not give him the promised smocks.
- Rocinante
Mentioned as having its saddle vacated when they stop in the grove.
- Dapple
Mentioned as having its packsaddle vacated; Sancho uses Dapple's halter and headstall to make a whip.
Key passages
“The vanquished and afflicted Don Quixote went along very downcast in one respect and very happy in another. His sadness arose from his defeat, and his satisfaction from the thought of the virtue that lay in Sancho, as had been proved by the resurrection of Altisidora;”
Don Quixote felt both sad and happy: sad because he had been defeated, and happy because Sancho's virtue had brought Altisidora back to life.
Summarizes Don Quixote's mixed emotions after his defeat and Sancho's apparent miracle.
“Here dies Samson, and all with him!”
This is the end of Samson and everything associated with him!
Sancho's dramatic cry while whipping a tree, pretending to be in great pain.
“Those two ladies were very unfortunate not to have been born in this age, and I unfortunate above all men not to have been born in theirs. Had I fallen in with those gentlemen, Troy would not have been burned or Carthage destroyed, for it would have been only for me to slay Paris, and all these misfortunes would have been avoided.”
Those two women were unlucky not to live in my time, and I am even more unlucky not to have lived in theirs. If I had met those men, I would have prevented the fall of Troy and Carthage by killing Paris.
Don Quixote's chivalric fantasy about saving Helen and Dido from their fates.
