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 #1
There was none of the beholders but was ready to burst into laughter, having a sight of the master's madness and the servant's simplicity. (1.4.3.2)
When they meet Don Quixote, people can't believe how easy it is to trick the guy, as long as they stay within the boundaries of knight adventures stories. What's even more amazing, though, is that Don Quixote's madness is actually reinforced by Sancho Panza's gullibility.
Quote #2
It happened that the management of this affair was committed to a steward of the Duke's, a man of facetious humour, and who had not only wit to start a pleasant design, but discretion to carry it on. (2.1.44.3)
There is no one in this book who likes messing with Don Quixote more than the Duke. And when it comes to messing with Sancho Panza, the Duke actually assigns one of his most trusted servants to oversee the project. In other words, the Duke wants to manipulate both Don Quixote and Sancho, even though he can't be in two places at once. That's one efficient prankster. Why is he so into pranking? Is he just bored?
Quote #3
These letters were admired, and caused a great deal of laughter and diversion. (2.1.52.15)
The Duke and Duchess like to intercept the letters that Sancho Panza and his wife Teresa send back and forth to one another. They get a real kick out of seeing how two illiterate country bumpkins try to grapple with the fact that Sancho has now suddenly become the governor of an island. This, of course, is all a giant scheme orchestrated by the Duke and Duchess, and it's pretty mean for them to take such pleasure in the ignorance of others. What's even stranger about all of this, of course, is that Sancho is a pretty good governor. In a way, the joke's on the Duke and Duchess. Maybe Sancho and his wife seem funny to them, but there's way more to the Panzas than they realize.