Don Quixote: Part 2, Chapter 34 Summary & Analysis

The Duchess and the Duke decide to play some amusing tricks on their guest. One day, they decide to take the two friends hunting with a large, noisy group of men and animals. When they are deep in the woods, a huge wild board comes running toward them, and several people spear it though. They carry the boar to a nearby clearing, where a meal has been laid out for them. Sancho says in a long-winded speech sprinkled with proverbs that hunting seems like a cruel amusement. Don Quixote scolds him for his foolish proverbs, but the Duchess jumps to his defense, saying that his mismatched proverbs are more delightful than appropriate ones.

The company rides back into the woods as it gets dark. Suddenly, they see fire all around them and hear thousands of loud instruments, as well as a Moorish battle cry. A young man in costume introduces himself as the devil; he has come with troops of enchanters, Dulcinea, and Montesinos to tell Don Quixote how Dulcinea is to be disenchanted. He tells Don Quixote to wait there for instructions. In a little while the piercing noise resumes; three old men sitting on top of fire-lit carts introduce themselves as sages and enchanters.