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 #4
"My name is Cardenio, the place of my birth one of the best cities in Andalusia; my descent noble, my parents wealthy." (1.3.10.3)
As Cardenio introduces himself, he gives the most important information first. He comes from a good city and from noble, wealthy parents. People would no doubt recognize his family's last name if he'd bother to mention it. But what matters is that Cardenio comes from a long line of wealthy people, which automatically makes people respect him.
Quote #5
Our observers were amazed at the discovery, rightly imagining that such tender feet were not used to trudge in rugged ways, or measure the steps of oxen at the plough, the common employments of people in such apparel. (1.4.1.1)
When they first see the beautiful Dorotea washing her feet in a mountain spring, the men figure that there's no way that someone with such delicate feet could come from a working-class background. Whoever this is, she clearly hasn't ever plowed a field. And that's because Dorotea has spent her whole life shut up like a nun by her father, who is a wealthy man.
Quote #6
"I am not the first, thought I to myself, whom marriage has raised to unhoped-for greatness, and whose beauty alone has supplied her want of birth and merit." (1.4.1.5)
Dorotea tries to explain how her beauty is strong enough to make her think that she could marry a noble lord. After all, she realizes that class means a lot to people in Spain, but every now and then, a woman's sheer beauty can make a man reach beneath his class for the sake of marrying.