The Life of Lazarillo de Tormes · Chapter
Fifth Master explained
Lazaro takes service with a seller of Papal Indulgences, a shameless and cunning man.
What happens
Lazaro takes service with a seller of Papal Indulgences, a shameless and cunning man. When the villagers refuse to buy indulgences, the seller stages a fake quarrel with a constable, who publicly denounces the indulgences as false. The seller then pretends to pray for a miracle, the constable collapses in a feigned fit, and after a dramatic 'recovery,' the villagers are convinced and buy indulgences in droves. Lazaro, though initially fooled, later learns the trick and reflects on the deceitfulness of such rogues.
Themes in this chapter
Corruption and Deceit
The seller of indulgences uses a staged quarrel and fake miracle to deceive the villagers into buying indulgences, highlighting the corruption within religious practices.
Satire of Religious Hypocrisy
The chapter satirizes the hypocrisy of religious figures who exploit faith for profit, as the seller pretends to be devout while orchestrating a fraudulent scheme.
Innocence and Experience
Lazaro, though initially fooled, gains experience and insight into the deceitful nature of the world, reflecting his loss of innocence.
Characters to notice
- Lazarillo de Tormes
Narrator and servant to the seller of indulgences; observes the trick and reflects on the deceit.
- The Bull Seller
Lazaro's fifth master, a cunning and shameless seller of Papal Indulgences who stages a fake miracle to sell his wares.
- The Constable
Accomplice in the seller's trick; publicly denounces the indulgences and then feigns a demonic fit.
Key passages
“My fifth master chanced to be a man engaged in the sale of Papal Indulgences. He was the most shameless and impudent distributor of them that ever I saw or hope to see, nor do I believe that anyone else ever saw one like him.”
My fifth master was a seller of Papal Indulgences, and he was the most brazen and cunning salesman imaginable.
Introduces the master and his character.
“Scarcely had my devout master finished his speech when the bad constable fell to the ground with such a noise that the church resounded. Then he began to groan and foam at the mouth, making hideous faces, throwing about his arms and legs, and rolling about on the ground.”
As soon as my master finished his prayer, the constable collapsed with a loud thud, groaning, foaming at the mouth, and thrashing about wildly.
Describes the fake fit that convinces the villagers.
“When he performed this farce, I confess that I was astounded and believed like many others. But afterwards I was a witness to the jokes and laughter that my master and the constable had over the business.”
I was fooled by the act at first, but later I saw my master and the constable laughing about it, revealing the trick.
Lazaro's realization of the deceit.