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
"[Her] courteousness and fair looks draw on everybody to love her; but then her dogged stubborn coyness breaks their hearts, and makes them ready to hang themselves." (1.2.4.6)
The beautiful shepherdess Marcela has a way of making men love her. But she doesn't have a way of loving them back. According to men, this makes Marcela the cruelest person in the world, because they seem to think that if a man loves a woman, she should have to love him back. Most men in this novel do not seem very concerned about the opposite situation.
Quote #2
"We are all mightily at a loss to know what will be the end of all this pride and coyness, who shall be the happy man that shall at last tame her and bring her to his lure." (1.2.4.6)
The shepherds assume that Marcela is blowing smoke when she says that she never wants to marry anyone. In their minds, every woman needs and wants to get married and have babies. So for them, it's just a matter of when and whom Marcela will choose to marry.
Quote #3
"By the Mass, she is a notable, strong-built, sizable, sturdy, manly lass, and one that will keep her chin out of the mire, I warrant her." (1.3.11.10)
When Sancho finally figures out that Dulcinea is actually Aldonza Lorenzo, he can't understand how Don Quixote would talk about this girl as if she were a delicate princess. As far as Sancho knows, Aldonza is a robust young woman who is good at manual labor. For a poor guy like Sancho, though, having a wife who can do hard work is a good thing.