Don Quixote · Chapter
XXXVIII explained
The Countess Trifaldi, also known as the Distressed Duenna, arrives with a procession of mourning duennas and her squire Trifaldin of the White Beard.
What happens
The Countess Trifaldi, also known as the Distressed Duenna, arrives with a procession of mourning duennas and her squire Trifaldin of the White Beard. She recounts her tale of woe, involving Princess Antonomasia of the kingdom of Kandy and a gentleman named Don Clavijo, whom she helped gain access to the princess. She criticizes poets and troubadours for their deceptive verses, which she blames for her downfall.
Themes in this chapter
Chivalry and Idealism
Don Quixote's offer to aid the Distressed Duenna embodies the chivalric ideal of a knight-errant serving the needy.
Literature and Metafiction
The Countess Trifaldi's criticism of poets and troubadours, and her reference to verses and seguidillas, highlights the self-referential commentary on literature.
Social Class and Identity
The tale involves inequality of rank between the private gentleman Don Clavijo and Princess Antonomasia, and the naming conventions of lords based on local features.
Characters to notice
- Don Quixote
Offers his service to the Distressed Duenna, declaring his calling to aid the needy.
- Sancho Panza
Interacts with the Countess Trifaldi, offering to intercede with his master on her behalf.
- The Countess Trifaldi
Also called the Distressed Duenna; leads the procession and narrates her misfortunes involving Princess Antonomasia and Don Clavijo.
- Trifaldin
Squire of the Countess Trifaldi, with a white beard, leading her by the hand.
- The Duke
Observes the procession and welcomes the Countess Trifaldi with courtesy.
- The Duchess
Receives the Countess Trifaldi with great urbanity alongside the duke.
Key passages
“I am Don Quixote of La Mancha, whose calling it is to give aid to the needy of all sorts; and that being so, it is not necessary for you, señora, to make any appeal to benevolence, or deal in preambles, only to tell your woes plainly and straightforwardly: for you have hearers that will know how, if not to remedy them, to sympathise with them.”
Don Quixote introduces himself as a knight-errant dedicated to helping all in need, telling the distressed lady she need not plead but simply state her troubles, as he and his companions will either remedy or sympathize with them.
Don Quixote's chivalric declaration to the Countess Trifaldi.
“I have thought that poets, as Plato advised, ought to be banished from all well-ordered States; at least the amatory ones, for they write verses, not like those of The Marquis of Mantua, that delight and draw tears from the women and children, but sharp-pointed conceits that pierce the heart like soft thorns, and like the lightning strike it, leaving the raiment uninjured.”
The Countess Trifaldi argues that love poets should be banished from well-ordered states, as their verses wound the heart subtly, unlike traditional ballads that move people to tears.
The Countess Trifaldi's critique of amatory poetry, referencing Plato.