Summary Chapter 48




The curate believes tales about chivalry should be censored, as they have no moral or artistic value. The canon says he considered writing a book stating such sentiments, but figured it was a waste of time. It would only be applauded by the small portion of the population that was wise. He has tried to convince actors that performing good art will delight everyone, and they shouldn't cater to the nonsense that is popular with the ignorant peasants.

The curate criticizes plays where an infant in the first act is a grown man in the second, or where the characters are in one country in the first act and in a different country the next. He also doesn't approve of the sort where a princess starts out as a maid. None of these situations are possible. They aren't realistic. The poorer people consider these stories to be perfection. Foreigners consider the Spaniards to be ignorant barbarians by their art. The poets conform because their employment depends on it, and sometimes they fear for their lives if the request comes from the king or noble families.

The barber comes up and proposes they rest. When they stop to rest, Sancho goes to Quixote and tells him he thinks the curate and barber have tricked him because they are jealous of Quixote’s deeds. His master doesn’t believe him. To prove his point, Sancho asks if Quixote has had the desire to eat, drink, sleep, etc. Quixote confirms this.



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