Don Quixote 28-35

In Chapter 29, it says, “The curate then informed Cardenio and Dorothea of their plan for Don Quixote’s cure, or at least for decoying him to his own house. Upon which Dorothea said she would undertake to act the distressed damsel better than the barber, especially as she had apparel with which she could perform it to the life; and they might have reliance upon her, as she had read many works of chivalry, and was well acquainted with the style in which distressed damsels were wont to beg their boons of knights-errant.” I see a recurring theme as dressing up to get Don Quixote’s attention. This was also represented in chapter 26, where the barber dressed up as a damsel. It’s interesting because I can see this theme reoccurring in the book, with people dressing up as damsels in distress to get Don Quixote’s attention, because he won’t pay attention to them any other way. In the beginning, Don Quixote was the one who saw people and thought they were someone else, like the protestant’s seen as princesses. Now, the people disguise themselves to get Don Quixote’s attention. I don’t think this theme will stop. Don Quixote has to learn to listen to the people so they don’t have to disguise themselves. It makes me wonder whether Don Quixote will also disguise himself in this story to make the other’s listen to him, as they did to Don Quixote.

In chapter 35, it says, “So saying, he rushed into the room, followed by the whole company; and they found Don Quixote in the strangest situation imaginable. He was in his shirt, and on his head a little greasy red cap which belonged to the innkeeper. About his left arm he had twisted a bed-blanket, and in his right hand he held his drawn sword, with which he was laying about him on all sides, calling out as if in actual combat; his eyes were shut, being still asleep, and dreaming that he was engaged in battle with the giant: for his mind was so full of adventure which he had undertaken that he dreamt that, having reached the kingdom of Micomicon and engaged in combat with his enemy, he was cleaving the giant down with a stroke that also proved fatal to the wine-skins, and set the whole room afloat with wine.” I found this to be an interesting part because Don Quixote thinks he defeated a big giant even though he was sleeping. So this goes along with the fiction, and what is not really there. This was an unexpected encounter with the Giant because Don Quixote thought he was in actual combat, even though he was asleep. He dreamt he was in battle, even though he wasn’t. This was the first time that Don Quixote had a dream of being in battle, even though he wasn’t, and I can see it occurring again later in the story.