The Life of Lazarillo de Tormes · Chapter
Notes on the Character of Lazaro explained
This chapter provides a critical analysis of the character of Lazaro, the protagonist of the picaresque novel.
What happens
This chapter provides a critical analysis of the character of Lazaro, the protagonist of the picaresque novel. It discusses his origins, his resourcefulness in the face of poverty, his moral development through various masters, and his eventual rise to prosperity. The author, Don Diego Hurtado de Mendoza, is credited with creating a boy hero who, despite his lowly birth and vicious surroundings, displays natural good disposition and fine instincts. The chapter also examines the satirical elements of the work, particularly the story of the seller of Indulgences, and defends Lazaro's marriage against critics who suggest his wife was the archpriest's mistress.
Themes in this chapter
Poverty and Hunger
Lazaro's early life is an incessant fight against starvation, and his resourceful ingenuity is used to survive against masters who ill-treat him.
Honor and Appearance
The penniless esquire is excessively proud and thinks only of concealing his poverty, reflecting the Spanish obsession with honor and appearance.
Satire of Religious Hypocrisy
The story of the seller of Indulgences is a satirical portrayal of religious corruption, which was so effective it was expurgated by the Inquisition.
Characters to notice
- Lazarillo de Tormes
The protagonist, portrayed as a boy of good disposition and fine instincts, whose bad qualities are due to his lowly birth and vicious surroundings. His resourcefulness and ingenuity are highlighted, as well as his kindness and tact with the penniless esquire.
- The Blind Man
Lazaro's first master, a clever and plausible old rascal who treats Lazaro abominably. His professional cleverness and knowledge are described, and Lazaro's cruel revenge against him is noted.
- The Priest
Lazaro's second master, who starves him. Lazaro's ingenious ways of getting at the provisions are amusingly told, and the boy's terror at the coffin is highlighted.
- The Squire
Lazaro's third master, a penniless esquire with excessive pride. Lazaro begs to support him, showing kindness, generosity, and tact. The esquire's views on honor are noted as typical of the time.
- The Bull Seller
Lazaro's fifth master, the seller of Indulgences. His story is amusing and true to life, but Lazaro merely appears as a narrator, and his character is not developed.
- The Archpriest
A good friend to Lazaro in his prosperity, but evil tongues suggest that Lazaro's wife had been his mistress. The chapter defends the wife, concluding that the evil tongues likely lied.
Key passages
“Lazaro had to resort to begging, and so he kept his poor master, as well as himself, alive.”
Lazaro was forced to beg in order to support both his master and himself.
Highlights Lazaro's kindness and generosity towards the penniless esquire.
“The esquire’s account of himself, and his views of honour and its obligations are interesting, as showing a type of character which was common in Spain in those days.”
The esquire's self-description and his ideas about honor are interesting because they represent a common Spanish character type of that era.
Provides historical context about Spanish honor culture.
“But there is nothing in the narrative to justify the belief that the evil tongues did not lie.”
The narrative provides no evidence to support the rumor that the girl had been the archpriest's mistress.
Defends Lazaro's wife against accusations of immorality.
