# Wherein is related what befell Don Quixote on his way to see his lady Dulcinea del Toboso explained — Don Quixote

> Chapter companion for Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra.

## What happens

Don Quixote and Sancho set out for El Toboso to seek Dulcinea's blessing. Sancho describes seeing Dulcinea sifting wheat, which Don Quixote dismisses as an enchantment. They discuss fame, envy, and the motives behind great deeds, with Don Quixote reflecting on Christian and pagan ideals of glory.

## Themes in this chapter

### Reality vs. Illusion

Don Quixote insists Sancho's memory of Dulcinea sifting wheat is an enchantment, contrasting Sancho's plain account with his idealized vision.

### Chivalry and Idealism

Don Quixote's quest for Dulcinea's blessing exemplifies chivalric devotion; his discourse on fame ties knightly deeds to Christian virtue.

### Literature and Metafiction

Cide Hamete's opening blessings and the discussion of the printed history highlight the self-aware narrative and the role of the author.

## Character check-ins

### Don Quixote

Resolved to visit Dulcinea before any adventure; reflects on fame, envy, and Christian duty.

### Sancho Panza

Recalls seeing Dulcinea sifting wheat; worries about his reputation in the history; asks about the fate of dead knights.

### Dulcinea del Toboso

Mentioned as the lady whose blessing Don Quixote seeks; Sancho describes her sifting wheat.

### Samson Carrasco

Mentioned as having told them of a printed history of their adventures.

### Cide Hamete Benengeli

Narrator who opens the chapter with blessings.

### Rocinante

Neighs as a good omen at the start of the journey.

### Dapple

Sighs, interpreted by Sancho as a sign of his own good fortune.

## Key lines

> Blessed be Allah the all-powerful! ... he says he utters these thanksgivings at seeing that he has now got Don Quixote and Sancho fairly afield

Cide Hamete praises God that the knight and squire are finally on the road again.

_The narrator expresses joy at the start of new adventures._

> for nothing in life makes knights-errant more valorous than finding themselves favoured by their ladies.

A knight's courage is boosted by his lady's favor.

_Don Quixote explains the importance of Dulcinea's blessing._

> O envy, root of all countless evils, and cankerworm of the virtues!

Envy is the source of all evils and destroys virtue.

_Don Quixote laments the effects of envy on his reputation._

> naked was I born, naked I find myself, I neither lose nor gain

I came into the world with nothing, and I have nothing now; I am unaffected by loss or gain.

_Sancho expresses indifference to how historians portray him._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-viii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/don_quixote_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters