# Wherein is continued the notable adventure of the distressed Duenna explained — Don Quixote

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

## What happens

The duke and duchess are pleased that Don Quixote accepts their scheme. Sancho Panza expresses his distrust of duennas, recalling an apothecary's warning, but Don Quixote defends the Countess Trifaldi as a noble exception. Doña Rodriguez also defends duennas, leading to a spirited exchange. The duke and duchess decide to receive the countess based on her rank, and the chapter ends with the entrance of the drums and fife signaling her arrival.

## Themes in this chapter

### Social Class and Identity

The debate over whether a countess who serves as a duenna merits the same courtesy as a noblewoman highlights the tension between birth and role.

### Chivalry and Idealism

Don Quixote's insistence on treating the Distressed Duenna with knightly courtesy, despite Sancho's skepticism, exemplifies his chivalric ideals.

## Character check-ins

### Don Quixote

Defends the Countess Trifaldi as a noble duenna and instructs Sancho on courtesy.

### Sancho Panza

Expresses distrust of duennas and jokes about the Countess Three-skirts, but later claims to have learned courtesy from Don Quixote.

### The Duke

Participates in the scheme and decides to receive the countess based on her rank.

### The Duchess

Engages in the duenna dispute and asks the duke about proper reception for the countess.

### The Countess Trifaldi

Is about to make her entrance as the Distressed Duenna.

### Maritornes

Referenced indirectly as Doña Rodriguez, a duenna in the duchess's service, defends duennas.

## Key lines

> I hope this señora duenna won’t be putting any difficulties in the way of the promise of my government; for I have heard a Toledo apothecary, who talked like a goldfinch, say that where duennas were mixed up nothing good could happen.

Sancho hopes the duenna won't interfere with his promised governorship, recalling an apothecary's warning that duennas bring trouble.

_Sancho expresses his superstition about duennas._

> Hush, friend Sancho; since this lady duenna comes in quest of me from such a distant land she cannot be one of those the apothecary meant; moreover this is a countess, and when countesses serve as duennas it is in the service of queens and empresses.

Don Quixote tells Sancho to be quiet, arguing that the Distressed Duenna, being a countess from afar, is not like the duennas the apothecary criticized.

_Don Quixote defends the countess's noble status._

> Ever since I have sniffed the governorship I have got rid of the humours of a squire, and I don’t care a wild fig for all the duennas in the world.

Sancho claims that since he has a taste of the governorship, he has shed his squire's prejudices and no longer fears duennas.

_Sancho's ambition for the governorship changes his attitude._

## Links

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