Summary
While their masters engage in knightly discourse, Sancho and the Squire of the Grove have their own revealing conversation that cuts to the heart of working-class reality. Both men openly discuss the hardships of serving delusional masters—the poor pay, dangerous conditions, and empty promises of future rewards. Yet their conversation reveals something deeper: how people in similar circumstances find solidarity and comfort in shared experience. The Grove's squire shares his excellent wine and food, transforming their meeting from mere complaining into genuine fellowship. Sancho demonstrates his wine-tasting expertise through a story about his family's legendary ability to detect even the smallest impurities, showing how working people develop specialized skills often unrecognized by their social superiors. The chapter explores themes of loyalty despite frustration—both squires love their masters despite recognizing their flaws. Sancho's devotion to Don Quixote comes from seeing his master's essential goodness, while the Grove's squire serves a more calculating knight. Their conversation becomes a meditation on whether it's better to pursue impossible dreams or return to simple, honest lives. The wine loosens their tongues and creates genuine warmth between strangers who recognize themselves in each other. This interlude provides crucial insight into how ordinary people cope with extraordinary circumstances, finding meaning and connection even while serving masters who seem disconnected from reality.
Coming Up in Chapter 86
As the squires bond over wine and shared grievances, their masters engage in their own intense conversation. The Knight of the Grove reveals his obsession with the mysterious Casildea de Vandalia, setting up a revelation that will shake Don Quixote's world.
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
N WHICH IS CONTINUED THE ADVENTURE OF THE KNIGHT OF THE GROVE, TOGETHER WITH THE SENSIBLE, ORIGINAL, AND TRANQUIL COLLOQUY THAT PASSED BETWEEN THE TWO SQUIRES The knights and the squires made two parties, these telling the story of their lives, the others the story of their loves; but the history relates first of all the conversation of the servants, and afterwards takes up that of the masters; and it says that, withdrawing a little from the others, he of the Grove said to Sancho, “A hard life it is we lead and live, señor, we that are squires to knights-errant; verily, we eat our bread in the sweat of our faces, which is one of the curses God laid on our first parents.” “It may be said, too,” added Sancho, “that we eat it in the chill of our bodies; for who gets more heat and cold than the miserable squires of knight-errantry? Even so it would not be so bad if we had something to eat, for woes are lighter if there’s bread; but sometimes we go a day or two without breaking our fast, except with the wind that blows.” “All that,” said he of the Grove, “may be endured and put up with when we have hopes of reward; for, unless the knight-errant he serves is excessively unlucky, after a few turns the squire will at least find himself rewarded with a fine government of some island or some fair county.” “I,” said Sancho, “have already told my master that I shall be content with the government of some island, and he is so noble and generous that he has promised it to me ever so many times.” “I,” said he of the Grove, “shall be satisfied with a canonry for my services, and my master has already assigned me one.” “Your master,” said Sancho, “no doubt is a knight in the Church line, and can bestow rewards of that sort on his good squire; but mine is only a layman; though I remember some clever, but, to my mind, designing people, strove to persuade him to try and become an archbishop. He, however, would not be anything but an emperor; but I was trembling all the time lest he should take a fancy to go into the Church, not finding myself fit to hold office in it; for I may tell you, though I seem a man, I am no better than a beast for the Church.” “Well, then, you are wrong there,” said he of the Grove; “for those island governments are not all satisfactory; some are awkward, some are poor, some are dull, and, in short, the highest and choicest brings with it a heavy burden of cares and troubles which the unhappy wight to whose lot it has fallen bears upon his shoulders. Far better would it be for us who have adopted this accursed service to go back to our own houses, and there employ ourselves in pleasanter occupations—in hunting or...
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Shared Struggle - Finding Your People in Unlikely Places
Genuine connection forms when people acknowledge shared struggles without competition or judgment, creating mutual support networks.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how genuine bonds form through shared vulnerability rather than shared interests or backgrounds.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when conversations shift from surface pleasantries to real struggles—and practice being the person who creates that space by sharing something honest about your own challenges.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Knight-errant
A wandering knight seeking adventures to prove his worth and help others. In Cervantes' time, this was already an outdated concept from medieval romance novels. Don Quixote tries to live like these fictional heroes in the real world.
Modern Usage:
Like someone who quits their job to become a lifestyle influencer or tries to live like characters from their favorite TV shows.
Squire
A knight's servant and companion, responsible for carrying equipment, caring for horses, and assisting in adventures. Traditionally, squires hoped to eventually become knights themselves through loyal service.
Modern Usage:
The assistant or right-hand person who does the grunt work while the boss gets the credit, hoping it leads to promotion.
Government of an island
A common promise in chivalric romances where faithful squires would be rewarded with ruling territories. Sancho constantly dreams of Don Quixote making him governor of an island as payment for his service.
Modern Usage:
Empty promises from employers about future promotions or profit-sharing that keep workers motivated without real commitment.
Breaking fast
Eating the first meal of the day, literally breaking the overnight fast. In this context, it means going without any food at all, showing how poor the squires' working conditions really are.
Modern Usage:
When people skip meals because they're too busy working or can't afford regular food.
Chivalric romance
Popular medieval stories about perfect knights rescuing damsels and fighting for honor. These books were considered trashy entertainment by Cervantes' educated readers, like romance novels today.
Modern Usage:
Any entertainment that creates unrealistic expectations about life, love, or success that people try to copy in real life.
Class solidarity
When working people recognize their shared struggles and support each other, regardless of which specific boss they serve. The two squires bond over their common hardships.
Modern Usage:
When retail workers, nurses, or other service employees immediately understand each other's frustrations and offer support.
Characters in This Chapter
Sancho Panza
Loyal squire and voice of practical wisdom
Opens up about the hardships of serving Don Quixote while still defending his master's good heart. Shows his expertise in wine-tasting, revealing hidden depths and family pride.
Modern Equivalent:
The experienced coworker who complains about management but still does good work and looks out for everyone
The Squire of the Grove
Fellow working-class companion seeking connection
Shares food and wine while discussing the difficulties of their profession. Represents how people in similar situations naturally find common ground and offer mutual support.
Modern Equivalent:
The person you meet at a work conference who does your same job elsewhere and immediately gets all your frustrations
Don Quixote
Delusional but well-meaning master
Though not directly present in this conversation, his influence shapes everything Sancho says. Sancho's loyalty comes from recognizing his master's essential goodness despite his madness.
Modern Equivalent:
The boss with impossible ideas who genuinely cares about people but makes everyone's job harder
The Knight of the Grove
Don Quixote's rival knight
Like Don Quixote, he's off having his own delusional conversations while his squire deals with practical matters. Represents a more calculating type of dreamer.
Modern Equivalent:
The ambitious coworker who talks big about changing the company while you handle the actual work
Key Quotes & Analysis
"A hard life it is we lead and live, señor, we that are squires to knights-errant; verily, we eat our bread in the sweat of our faces"
Context: Opening the honest conversation about their difficult working conditions
This Biblical reference to earning bread through hard labor immediately establishes the working-class perspective. It shows how even the lowest characters in the story understand their situation in moral and economic terms.
In Today's Words:
Man, we really work our asses off for these guys, and barely make enough to survive.
"Who gets more heat and cold than the miserable squires of knight-errantry?"
Context: Adding to the complaints about their harsh working conditions
Sancho focuses on the physical discomfort of their job, showing how working people often bear the brunt of their employers' decisions. The word 'miserable' captures both their emotional and economic state.
In Today's Words:
Nobody suffers more from bad working conditions than people like us who have to follow these crazy bosses around.
"Unless the knight-errant he serves is excessively unlucky, after a few turns the squire will at least find himself rewarded"
Context: Trying to justify why they continue in such difficult jobs
This reveals the hope that keeps working people going despite poor conditions - the belief that loyalty and hard work will eventually pay off. It's both touching and tragic in its optimism.
In Today's Words:
If we stick it out and our boss doesn't completely fail, we'll eventually get something good out of this.
Thematic Threads
Class
In This Chapter
Both squires openly discuss the reality of serving masters who don't understand working-class needs—poor pay, dangerous conditions, empty promises
Development
Continues the book's examination of how class differences create different lived experiences and priorities
In Your Life:
You might recognize this when coworkers bond over shared frustrations with management decisions that ignore front-line realities
Loyalty
In This Chapter
Both men love their masters despite recognizing their flaws—Sancho sees Don Quixote's goodness, while the Grove's squire serves more calculating motives
Development
Explores the complexity of loyalty—it can be based on love, duty, or practical necessity
In Your Life:
You might feel this conflicted loyalty toward family members, employers, or friends whose behavior frustrates you but whose core relationship you value
Recognition
In This Chapter
Sancho demonstrates his wine expertise through family stories, showing how working people develop specialized knowledge often invisible to social superiors
Development
Builds on the theme of hidden competence and dignity in ordinary people
In Your Life:
You might have skills and knowledge from your work or background that others don't recognize or value, but that represent real expertise
Fellowship
In This Chapter
Wine and food transform a chance meeting into genuine warmth between strangers who see themselves in each other
Development
Shows how authentic connection can happen quickly when people drop pretenses and share honestly
In Your Life:
You might find unexpected friendship with someone facing similar challenges, even if your backgrounds are completely different
Identity
In This Chapter
Both squires wrestle with whether to pursue impossible dreams with their masters or return to simple, honest lives
Development
Continues exploring the tension between accepting reality and chasing transformation
In Your Life:
You might struggle with staying in situations that offer growth but involve frustration, versus returning to simpler but more predictable circumstances
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What do Sancho and the Grove's squire actually talk about when their masters aren't listening?
analysis • surface - 2
Why do both squires continue serving masters they openly criticize?
analysis • medium - 3
Where have you seen this pattern of workers bonding over shared frustrations with difficult bosses or situations?
application • medium - 4
When someone shares their struggles with you, how do you respond in ways that build connection rather than create distance?
application • deep - 5
What does this conversation reveal about finding dignity and expertise even in undervalued positions?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Support Network
Think about the last month. Identify three moments when you connected with someone over shared challenges—maybe complaining about traffic, discussing difficult family members, or venting about work stress. Write down what made those conversations feel supportive rather than just negative.
Consider:
- •Notice whether you offered practical help, emotional validation, or just honest listening
- •Consider how sharing your own struggles (like Sancho's wine-tasting story) created connection
- •Think about whether these conversations led to ongoing relationships or just momentary relief
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when a stranger or acquaintance became genuinely helpful in your life through shared understanding of a difficult situation. What made that connection possible?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 86: The Knight of Mirrors Revealed
As the story unfolds, you'll explore our enemies sometimes wear familiar faces to test us, while uncovering the difference between winning through luck versus skill. These lessons connect the classic to contemporary challenges we all face.