2. Don Quixote has a
joyous heart as he sets
out at dawn. He is finally
knighted. However,
following the innkeeper’s
advice, he plans to
return home to acquire
the things he needs
money, shirts, medicine,
and a squire. He knows
a poor man that would
fulfill the position of
squire nicely.
3. Don Quixote hears
someone crying, and he
sees his first opportunity
to come to someone’s
aide. He comes across a
youth being flogged by his
master. Don Quixote
admonishes the master
and asks him to take up
his lance.
4. The man, Don Haldudo,
explains that his servant
Andrew is his
sheepherder, but he is
very careless and loses
a sheep everyday. The
master says the servant
accuses him of
withholding his pay, but
he lies.
5. Don Quixote doesn’t
believe Don Haldudo. He
orders him to untie the boy
and pay him, or he will kill
him. He then asks Andrew
how much is owed to him.
Don Haldudo says the boy
owes him for shoes and
doctor visits. Don Quixote,
though, tells him that even
with these deductions, he
owes the same amount for
the times he has beaten
6. Don Haldudo says he doesn’t have the
money on him, and the servant will
have to return to his house in order to
get paid. The boy refuses, saying that
the master will beat him. Don Quixote
tells the boy he will not dare beat him
after swearing an oath to the
knighthood. Andrew points out his
master is not a knight and will not
honor the oath. Don Quixote dismisses
this concern saying even if the man is
not a knight, there must be knights in
his region, and he will respect the oath.
Don Haldudo promises to pay Andrew.
Don Quixote tells him that if he finds
out that Don Haldudo did dishonor his
oath, he will hunt him down no matter
7. As soon as Quixote leaves,
the master vows to “pay” the
servant now. Andrew tells his
master that the knight will find
out and avenge him. The
master ties his servant up
and beats him senseless.
When he releases Andrew,
Don Haldudo laughs and
asks where his courageous
knight is to avenge him.
Andrew vows to find Don
Quixote and tell him of this
incident.
8. Don Quixote, believing
he rescued the boy, is
telling Dulcinea how
fortunate she is that
she has a valiant knight
like him to love her. He
was only knighted
yesterday, and already
he has righted an
injustice.
9. A bunch of traders come
towards him. He stands in
the middle of the road and
shouts that they must
acknowledge that the
Empress Dulcinea is the
most beautiful woman in the
world. The traders realize
he is a madman. However,
one answers that they do
not know the lady—but if
Quixote can produce her,
and his claims are justified,
they will gladly
10. Quixote indignantly tells
them that there is no
merit if they don’t
acknowledge it without
requiring proof. They can
agree with his statement,
or they can fight him. The
trader tells Quixote that
he can’t force them to
swear to something that
they have no knowledge
of, for it may not be fair or
true. They demand proof.
11. Quixote goes to
attack the man. He
would have killed
him, but Rocinante
trips over his lance.
Quixote falls off his
horse. One of the
muleteers with the
group breaks
Quixote’s lance and
beats him. The group
finally leaves him.
12. Don Quixote is
unable to rise. He
is battered, and
his armor weighs
him down. He
blames
Rocinante for
tripping.
13. Quixote is delighted to come upon a person in
need, because helping such people is the
knight’s vocation. The world has shown him
that knights are indeed still necessary. But he
does not stop to investigate whether or not the
boy deserves the beating he’s receiving. It
seems that in the world of the chivalry books,
only knights can mete out just punishment:
when a farmer punishes, he is simply injuring
someone weaker than he is.
Analys
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