the canon of Toledo

Also known as: canon / señor canon / the Canon / the canon · Family: Toledo · Role: canon · First appears: Part 1, Ch. 48.2

In Part 1, Ch. 47.4, the canon heard the curate’s account of Don Quixote’s character, life, madness, and confinement, along with the plan to take him home and seek a cure. In Ch. 48.1, he abandoned his own book of chivalry after writing more than a hundred sheets: “nevertheless I proceeded no farther with it.” In Ch. 48.2, he halted with the curate to enjoy the valley and his conversation, having begun to take a fancy to him and wishing to learn more about Don Quixote.

In Ch. 49.1, the canon took Don Quixote’s hand and, after receiving his promise not to leave without consent, had him unbound from the cage. He then urged him to return to common sense and apply his gifts to more beneficial reading. In Ch. 50.2, he advised Sancho Panza about justice and sound judgment, and gave the goatherd rabbit and drink to calm him. In Ch. 52.2, he ran with the curate and the barber to prevent Don Quixote, preserving their friendship.

Relationship record

Life events

• The curate reveals Don Quixote’s history, confinement, and their plan to take him home and cure his madness.(Part 1, Ch. 47.4)
  • With: the curate Don Quixote
  • “The canon agreed, and going on ahead with his servants, listened with attention to the account of the character, life, madness, and ways of Don Quixote, given him by the curate, who described to him briefly the beginning and origin of his craze, and told him the whole story of his adventures up to his being confined in the cage, together with the plan they had of taking him home to try if by any means they could discover a cure for his madness.”
• The canon abandoned his book of chivalry after writing more than a hundred sheets.(Part 1, Ch. 48.1)
  • “nevertheless I proceeded no farther with it”
• The canon of Toledo unbinds Don Quixote from the cage after receiving his promise not to leave without consent.(Part 1, Ch. 49.1)
  • With: Don Quixote
  • “The canon took his hand, tied together as they both were, and on his word and promise they unbound him, and rejoiced beyond measure he was to find himself out of the cage.”
• The canon gives the goatherd food and drink, calming his irritation.(Part 1, Ch. 50.2)
  • With: the goatherd
  • “Take this morsel and drink a sup, and that will soothe your irritation, and in the meantime the goat will rest herself,” and so saying, he handed him the loins of a cold rabbit on a fork. The goatherd took it with thanks, and drank and calmed himself”