In his prologue, Cervantes claims that Don Quixote is an attack on chivalry, but fails to mention that Don Quixote is also a satire of misogyny. In Chapter VI of Don Quixote, Cervantes uses juxtaposition, allusion, and omission of words to characterize the niece and housekeeper as devils to parody chivalry’s chauvinistic tendencies. Cervantes portrays the niece and housekeeper to be in direct opposition of the priest. Thus, Cervantes not only contrasts their beliefs about burning the books, but also their piety. While the priest believes that some of the books should be “pardoned” and “saved”, the women are “anxious” and “delighted” to “joyfully” throw the books in the fire (Cervantes). The demeanors of the priest and the women are juxtaposed, …show more content…
Don Fernando represents the most detestable parts of chivalry; just like the knights of errant, he idealizes one woman, but lusts after many others. Don Fernando idolizes Dorotea, conquers her, and leaves her. As a result of Don Fernando’s chivalric ennoblement and desertion, Dorotea falls from a virtuous daughter to woman “deprived of… purity” (Cervantes). She completes the fall from grace just as Lucifer fell from virtuous angel to ruler of Hell. Grisóstomo, who suffers less from the ills of chivalry for he, unlike the knights of errant or Don Fernando, idealizes only Marcela. However, his chivalric flaw is that he objectifies Marcela. Thus, Marcela is characterized by the herdsmen as a “basilisk” or “viper”, which recalls the devil’s serpent form (Cervantes). Cardenio suffers the least from misogynistic chivalry; consequently, he does not characterize Luscinda as a devil. Unlike Dorotea, Luscinda does not completely fall from grace; instead, she falls from angel to woman (Cervantes). Don Quixote attacks the misogyny in chivalry by demonstrating that only the most despicable, chivalric men characterize women as devils. Cervantes pushes the reader to see the incongruity between feigned virtue and denoted evil. Yet, the irony lies in the characterization of women as devils. Lucifer revolted against God because he believed Him to be unjust; similarly, Cervantes rebels