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 #7
"Thou art a very simple fellow, Sancho," answered Don Quixote. "Thou must know that Heaven gave to Spain this mighty champion of the Red-cross for its patron and protector, especially in the desperate engagements which the Spaniards had with the Moors." (2.1.58.4)
Whenever Spanish people start feeling divided, all they have to do is mention the Moors, and suddenly they're all on the same side again. Part of you wants to say, "Get over it, guys. The Moors invaded you a thousand years ago." But the fact that Africa is just across the Strait of Gibraltar never seems to sit well with the Spanish, who are always on guard against their Moorish "enemies."
Quote #8
"In vain I professed myself a Christian, being really one, and not such a secret Mahometan as too many of us were" (2.1.63.9).
Ana Félix is of African, Moorish descent. But in order to make Spanish people comfortable, she promises she's a Christian and not a secret Muslim. She even goes so far as to say that "too many" of the Moors are secret Muslims. In other words, she's selling out her race for the sake of fitting in with the white Christians.
Quote #9
"In my opinion, you are not unlike the Moors, who are incapable of being convinced of the error of their religion, by Scripture, speculative reasons, or those drawn immediately from the articles of our faith." (1.4.6.5)
Those pesky Moors just won't convert to Christianity, no matter how much people try to convince them with perfectly rational arguments. (If you can't tell, we're being sarcastic here.) Back in the 1500s, and 1600s, the Spanish had some pretty brutal ways of dealing with people who spoke out against the Christian church. Ever heard of a charming little thing called the Spanish Inquisition?