Don Quixote · Chapter
XLIV explained
Sancho Panza is sent off to his governorship with a large following, while Don Quixote remains at the castle.
What happens
Sancho Panza is sent off to his governorship with a large following, while Don Quixote remains at the castle. The chapter includes Cide Hamete's meta-commentary on the narrative structure of the Second Part, the duke and duchess's amusement at Don Quixote's written counsels, and a serenade by the lovestruck Altisidora. Don Quixote, distressed by a torn stocking and missing Sancho, overhears Altisidora's song from the garden.
Themes in this chapter
Literature and Metafiction
Cide Hamete directly addresses the reader about the narrative structure, criticizing the inclusion of inserted novels in the First Part and justifying the use of episodes in the Second Part.
Social Class and Identity
The narrator's lament on poverty highlights the struggles of a gentleman of good birth to maintain honor despite material want, exemplified by Don Quixote's torn stocking.
Love and Worship
Altisidora's serenade and Don Quixote's internal resistance, remaining faithful to Dulcinea, illustrate the theme of courtly love and idealized devotion.
Characters to notice
- Don Quixote
Gives written counsels to Sancho, is distressed by a torn stocking, and overhears Altisidora's serenade from the garden.
- Sancho Panza
Departs for his governorship; leaves behind a pair of travelling boots.
- Altisidora
Sings a love ballad to Don Quixote from the garden, expressing her infatuation.
- The Duke
Receives Don Quixote's written counsels and shows them to the duchess.
- The Duchess
Amused by Don Quixote's counsels, discusses Clavileño with him, and later retires.
- Cide Hamete Benengeli
The narrator comments on the difficulty of writing a story confined to a few characters and defends his choice to avoid inserted novels in the Second Part.
Key passages
“He said, too, that to go on, mind, hand, pen always restricted to writing upon one single subject, and speaking through the mouths of a few characters, was intolerable drudgery, the result of which was never equal to the author’s labour”
Cide Hamete complains that writing a story limited to one subject and a few characters is tedious and unrewarding.
Meta-commentary on the difficulty of sustaining a narrative focused solely on Don Quixote and Sancho.
“O poverty, poverty! I know not what could have possessed the great Cordovan poet to call thee ‘holy gift ungratefully received.’”
The narrator laments poverty, questioning why it is called a holy gift when it brings such hardship.
Reflects on the social pressures of maintaining honor despite material lack.
“Urge me not to sing, Emerencia, for thou knowest that ever since this stranger entered the castle and my eyes beheld him, I cannot sing but only weep”
Altisidora tells her friend that since Don Quixote arrived, she can only weep, not sing.
Sets up the serenade scene and Altisidora's infatuation.