Don Quixote Ch 36-45

Choose 2 quotes from these chapters for analysis.

In Chapter XLIII Cervantes brings up again that Don Quixote seems smart when he talks about things other than chivalry. When chivalry is brought up he gets caught up in it and his imagination and what he has read gets the best of him. Cervantes writes, "He only talked nonsense when people led him on to the subject of chivalry, and when discussing all other matters he showed a clear and confident understanding, so that his actions were always discrediting his ideas, and his ideas his actions; but in these second instructions that he gave Sancho he showed a ready wit and raised both his good sense and his madness to a high level" (770). I thought this was interesting because it talks about how Don Quixote is smart aside from chivalry, but his second instructions bring his madness to a high level. This is a good way to start the chapter because it really makes the reader wonder what is going to happen. I am not sure what to make of Don Quixote telling Sancho all of these things to do. In one way, it seems like Don Quixote is just looking out for Sancho when he tells him to cut his fingernails and to not eat onions because that shows that he is a peasant. He also tells him to not wear loose clothing because it is a sign of a "lackadaisical spirit." Don Quixote also tells him to limit his use of proverbs because it can make one's discourse flimsy and vulgar.

Another quote that I think is important appears in this same chapter towards the end. Don Quixote is trying to make Sancho something that he is not and Sancho is listening but he doesn't think it is useful is he won't remember everything anyway. Sancho says, "If you don't think I'm up to this governing, I'll give it up here and now, because I'm more concerned about the smallest snippet of my soul than the whole length of my body, and I can stay alive as plain Sancho on bread and onions just as well as I can as governor on partridges and capons, and what's more what we're asleep we're all the same, great and small, rich and poor" (775). I think this quote is significant because Sancho does not want to change who he is to satisfy others. He is fine with living as a peasant because he is happy. He does not want to be corrupted by becoming a governor. Sancho says, "I'm more interested in going as Sancho to heaven than as a governor to hell." Don Quixote should pay attention to this and learn from Sancho because he has some good points to make. Sancho does not have to impress other people. Don Quixote is solely concerned with making himself the best he can be and he tries to make others change who they are, but sometimes it is better to stay true to yourself.