Don Quixote X-XIX

I thought the story of Marcela and Grisostomo was interesting because I found it to be similar to Don Quixote's own story. Don Quixote dresses himself as a knight and conducts his life accordingly because to him, this life is more beautiful and more real than his past life had been, though he does not consciously think of it that way. I came to the conclusion that the mock shepherds both chose to follow this life style for the same reasons Don Quixote chose his. Or at least Marcela did. She was a well respected and sought after woman and had the opportunity to be very wealthy by choosing one of her many suitors but chose instead a "free and easy life, with little privacy or rather none at all" (pg 93) as Pedro described it. I assume that to her this life seemed more appealing because it allowed her freedom to roam with out being shielded by her well-intentioned uncle. It was a simple life and most people of her rank and status would look down upon it with contempt, but to her the simplicity and honesty of it is what made it beautiful. " I was born free, and to live free I chose the solitude of the countryside." (109) Grisostomo really only followed suit in his attempt to court her but perhaps he also saw the attraction of the life style even though he had gone to a university and was also had a privileged life.

The scene of the night at the inn was very funny because of all the misunderstandings and fighting but I thought that several of the characters were acting in their own form of chivalry. Don Quixote was mistaken in thinking the Asturian wench was the inn keepers beautiful daughter but maintained that he would not betray his love Dulcinea, and acted as any proper knight would. The muleteer attempted to defend the girl against Don Quixote and began the fighting and the peace-keeper was trying to stop the fighting between the men and the girl and wanted to help Don Quixote but due to more misunderstandings was offended and attacked Don Quixote again. Though the scene was entertaining, most of the men were trying to do what they believed to be the right and noble thing, though they all failed miserably.