Don Quixote · Chapter
Of what befell Don Quixote with Doña Rodriguez, the duchess’s Duenna, together with other occurrences worthy of record and eternal remembrance explained
Don Quixote, recovering from cat scratches, is visited at night by Doña Rodriguez, the duchess's duenna.
What happens
Don Quixote, recovering from cat scratches, is visited at night by Doña Rodriguez, the duchess's duenna. She seeks his aid for a grievance, but he initially fears she is a go-between. After mutual reassurances, she recounts her noble origins, her marriage to a squire, and her subsequent misfortunes.
Themes in this chapter
Chivalry and Idealism
Don Quixote's exaggerated fear of breaking his vow to Dulcinea and his chivalric resolve to aid the distressed duenna.
Social Class and Identity
Doña Rodriguez's detailed account of her noble Asturian lineage and her fall from grace as a duenna.
Reality vs. Illusion
Don Quixote mistakes the duenna for a phantom or sorceress, and later debates whether she is a seductive threat.
Characters to notice
- Don Quixote
Lying in bed with bandaged face from cat scratches, he fears Altisidora's advances and later mistakes Doña Rodriguez for a phantom or go-between.
- Altisidora
Mentioned as the enamoured damsel whom Don Quixote fears will assault his chastity.
- Dulcinea del Toboso
Invoked by Don Quixote as the lady to whom he owes unwavering fidelity.
- The Duchess
Referenced as the mistress of Doña Rodriguez and the duenna's employer.
- Cide Hamete Benengeli
The narrator inserts a parenthesis commenting on the scene of Don Quixote and Doña Rodriguez walking hand in hand.
Key passages
“No, said he, firmly persuaded of the truth of his idea (and he said it loud enough to be heard), the greatest beauty upon earth shall not avail to make me renounce my adoration of her whom I bear stamped and graved in the core of my heart and the secret depths of my bowels”
Don Quixote declares aloud that no earthly beauty can make him betray his devotion to Dulcinea.
Shows his unwavering chivalric fidelity.
“I conjure thee, phantom, or whatever thou art, tell me what thou art and what thou wouldst with me. If thou art a soul in torment, say so, and all that my powers can do I will do for thee; for I am a Catholic Christian and love to do good to all the world”
Don Quixote, mistaking the duenna for a ghost, offers to help any soul in purgatory.
Highlights his confusion between reality and illusion.
“Who knows but that the devil, being wily and cunning, may be trying now to entrap me with a duenna, having failed with empresses, queens, duchesses, marchionesses, and countesses?”
Don Quixote worries that the devil might use a duenna to tempt him after failing with higher-ranking women.
Reflects his comedic self-importance and fear of temptation.