1.23: Mon, 28 Feb

Don Quixote - Volume 1, Chapter 23 Of what befell the renowned Don Quixote in the Sierra Morena, being one of the most curious and uncommon adventures of any related in this faithful history.

Prompts:

1) Don Quixote listens to Sancho for once, and lets him lead the way. What did you think of this? Are we seeing further progression in their relationship?

2) Famously in this chapter there is a plot hole: Gines steals Sancho’s donkey, but the donkey keeps being mentioned as if it never happened. This is partially corrected in some editions. It is disputed whether this was a mistake or done intentionally by Cervantes -- what do you think? And why would Cervantes insert this theft anyway, which he is thought to have done in post?

3) What do you think of what they find in the mountains?

4) For some, hearing of a mad man would lead them to want nothing to do with it. Don Quixote, however, is said to be of admiration of what he heard from the goatherd, and resolves to do everything and not rest until he finds this mad man. Why is he so inspired by this story, and what do you think he is planning?

5) What do you make of the embrace at the end between Don Quixote and the man?

6) Favourite line / anything else to add?

Free Reading Resources:

• Project Gutenberg
• Standard eBook
• Librivox Audiobook

Illustrations:

1. “to do good to low fellows is to throw water into the sea.” (coloured)
2. The Don and Sancho approach the Sierra Morena (coloured)
3. Gines de Pasamonte steals Sancho's donkey - Doré (coloured)
4. Gines de Pasamonte steals Sancho's donkey - Balaca
5. In the heart of the Sierra Morena (coloured)
6. Don Quixote reads a sonnet - (coloured)
7. - from the little book found in the abandoned valise
8. The travelers see a ragged man leaping among the rocks (coloured)
9. he espied on the top of a hillock just before him -
10. - a man skipping from crag to crag
11. his beard black and bushy, his hair long and tangled
12. Soon afterward they find the cadaver of a mule (coloured)
13. on the top of the mountain, the goatherd that kept them, who was an old man. Don Quixote called aloud to him, and desired him to come down to them.
14. The goatherds find the strange young man housed in a hollow tree
15. The embrace - Doré
16. The embrace - Sancha
17. The embrace - Balaca

1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 12, 14, 15 by Gustave Doré (source), coloured versions by Salvador Tusell (source)
4, 17 by Ricardo Balaca (source)
7 by artist/s of 1862 Imprenta Nacional edition (source)
9 by Apel·les Mestres (source)
10, 13 by George Roux (source)
11 by Tony Johannot (source)
16 by artist/s of 1797 Sancha edition (source)

Past years discussions:

• 2021-02-28

Final line:

[..] after he had suffered himself to be embraced, drew back a little, and laying both his hands on Don Quixote's shoulders, stood beholding him, as if to see whether he knew him; in no less admiration, perhaps, at the figure, mien, and armour, of Don Quixote, than Don Quixote was at the sight of him. In short, the first who spoke after the embracing was the Ragged Knight, and he said what shall be told in the next chapter.

Next post:

Thu, 3 Mar; in three days, i.e. two-day gap.