the majordomo

Also known as: a majordomo / majordomo / seneschal / the duke’s majordomo / their majordomo · Family: duke's household · Role: servant of the duchess · First appears: Part 2, Ch. 32.2

In Part 2, Ch. 32.2, the duchess commands the majordomo to fulfill worthy Sancho’s request: “Attend to worthy Sancho’s request, seneschal,”. By Ch. 36.1, he is the duke’s majordomo, a man of humour who plays Merlin, arranges the late adventure, composes its verses, and secures a page to represent Dulcinea. His planning with the duke and the duchess also helps make the adventure involving Don Quixote and Sancho Panza successful.

That same evening in Ch. 44.1, the duke and the duchess send Sancho Panza to govern the village and place him in the majordomo’s charge. Instructed by his employers, he conducts the scheme admirably; in Ch. 49.1 he helps the duke arrange another prank, though Sancho Panza withstands it, then accompanies him on his night patrol with the official entourage. At the Island of Barataria in Ch. 51.2, the majordomo spares Sancho Panza from being killed by hunger while preparing another joke, having decided that “it against his conscience to kill so wise a governor by hunger”.