Hudibras · Chapter
Canto III explained
Hudibras, troubled by doubts about his oath to the widow, seeks out the astrologer Sidrophel to learn his fate.
What happens
Hudibras, troubled by doubts about his oath to the widow, seeks out the astrologer Sidrophel to learn his fate. After a lengthy debate about astrology and magic, the conversation turns to a fight, which Hudibras wins. He plunders Sidrophel's possessions, but Sidrophel feigns death to escape.
Themes in this chapter
Folly of Pedantry
The lengthy, absurd debate between Hudibras and Sidrophel over astrology and magic mocks intellectual pretension and empty scholasticism.
Human Vanity and Self-Deception
Hudibras's self-doubt and rationalizations about his oath, as well as Sidrophel's feigned death, highlight characters' self-deception and vanity.
Satire of Ideology
The poem satirizes the ideological conflicts of the time, including religious and political dogmatism, through the characters' arguments.
Characters to notice
- Hudibras
The knight, ridden with doubt about his vow to the widow, consults Sidrophel and ultimately defeats him in combat.
- Ralpho
The squire suggests consulting Sidrophel and later witnesses the fight, being sent to fetch a constable.
- Sidrophel
The astrologer and 'Rosy-crucian' who debates with Hudibras, is defeated in a fight, and feigns death to escape.
- Whachum
Sidrophel's associate, who attempts to fight with a fire-fork but flees and is struck by Hudibras.
Key passages
“Doubtless the pleasure is as great Of being cheated, as to cheat; As lookers-on feel most delight, That least perceive a juggler's sleight;”
There is as much pleasure in being deceived as in deceiving, just as spectators enjoy a magic trick more when they don't understand how it's done.
The narrator comments on the nature of deception and self-deception, a key theme.
“For though an oath obliges not Where any thing is to be got, (As thou hast prov'd), yet 'tis profane, And sinful, when men swear in vain.”
Although an oath is not binding when there is profit to be made, it is still sinful to swear falsely without gain.
Hudibras rationalizes breaking his oath, revealing his moral flexibility.
“Quoth Sidrophel, If you suppose, Sir Knight, that I am one of those, I might suspect, and take the alarm, Your bus'ness is but to inform;”
Sidrophel says that if Hudibras thinks he is a conjurer, he might suspect that Hudibras is there to inform on him.
Sidrophel defensively denies being a sorcerer, showing the paranoia of the era.