The rapport between Sancho Panza and Don Quixote is one of my favorite parts of the novel. Sancho tends to speak in frivolous proverbs and platitudes. By offering his words of wisdom to Don Quixote, Sancho assumes a position of equality with him, a position by which Sancho may legitimately give his master some advice. I aim to share a proverbial gem with you each week or so.
In the reading we did for this week, Sancho and Don Quixote have just met in chapter 7 and faced their first two adventures in chapter 8. Perhaps because they are still new to each other, we don’t hear any of Sancho’s ridiculous proverbs in this week’s reading (chapters 1-8). Instead, Sancho’s words or wisdom to Don Quixote doesn’t seem that different from things we might hear today: “God’s will be done” (Sancho, Chapter 8, p. 59).
Although we don’t get a proverb per se, we do see something that remains constant through the novel. Even as Sancho is a loyal squire, he is also consistently self-interested. Don Quixote tells his squire that Sancho must not help him fight “gentlemen” until Sancho too is made a knight. Assuming Sancho to be a brave squire, he counsels him to control his “natural impulses” to save his master.
In the reading we did for this week, Sancho and Don Quixote have just met in chapter 7 and faced their first two adventures in chapter 8. Perhaps because they are still new to each other, we don’t hear any of Sancho’s ridiculous proverbs in this week’s reading (chapters 1-8). Instead, Sancho’s words or wisdom to Don Quixote doesn’t seem that different from things we might hear today: “God’s will be done” (Sancho, Chapter 8, p. 59).
Although we don’t get a proverb per se, we do see something that remains constant through the novel. Even as Sancho is a loyal squire, he is also consistently self-interested. Don Quixote tells his squire that Sancho must not help him fight “gentlemen” until Sancho too is made a knight. Assuming Sancho to be a brave squire, he counsels him to control his “natural impulses” to save his master.
“Then that’s just what I’ll do,” replied Sancho, “and I’ll keep that precept as faithfully as I keep the Sabbath on Sunday.” (Chapter 8, p. 61).
Despite Sancho’s resoluteness, as his role with the friars in chapter 8 indicates, Sancho will have his fair share of beatings and battle.
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