Don Quixote Loyalty Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Part.Book.Chapter.Paragraph) We use the P. A. Motteux translation from 1712 for our quotes. Some familiar character names appear differently in this edition (Sancho Panza is Sancho Panca here, Rocinante is Rozinante, and Doña Rodriguez is Donna Rodriguez). We preserve Motteux's spellings in our quotes but use the more familiar versions of these names in our analysis.

Quote #10

"Now I can never so much esteem her, who owes her virtue merely to fear or want of opportunity for being false, as I would one who victoriously surmounts all the assaults of a vigorous and watchful lover." (1.4.6.4)

Anselmo values his wife's sexual loyalty more than anything. But he feels that loyalty that has never been tested isn't really worth much. That's why he hatches a plan to tempt his wife as much as possible. It's only by proving her loyalty in the face of seduction that the woman will be able to satisfy Anselmo. This doesn't play out well for him. Why do you think that is? Do you think Anselmo's wife would have been loyal if her husband hadn't sent Lothario to seduce her?