Count Lucanor, Lazarillo de Tormes: Summary & Analysis
Count Lucanor: Structure and Moral
In each story of Count Lucanor, the Count presents his counselor, Patronio, with a question regarding a specific case of conduct. Patronio responds allegorically, narrating a story or *exemplo*, always concluding with a Christian moral, even in seemingly pagan scenarios. This moral directly answers the Count’s initial question.
Lazarillo de Tormes: Parody and Censorship
Lazarillo’s Parody: The narrative includes elements of parody, such as the idea of love being blind. Lazarillo deceives the monk, steals food by posing as a mouse, and keeps the key to the ark in his mouth. He even uses the sound of a snake to mislead the cleric.
The novel was censored due to its harsh criticism, particularly towards the Church. The author remained anonymous to avoid accusations, imprisonment, and the repercussions of the law. The social criticism is directed at 16th-century society, which classified people according to their wealth: the privileged (nobles, clergy) and the underprivileged (workers).
First Treaty: Childhood and the Blind Man
The First Treaty begins with Lázaro de Tormes recounting his childhood. His nickname originates from his birthplace, the River Tormes. At eight years old, his father, Tomé González, was accused of theft and forced to serve a knight against the Moors, where he lost his life. Lázaro and his mother, Antona Pérez, moved to the city. She cooked for students and washed clothes for the stable boys of the Commander of La Magdalena. She began a relationship with a man named Zaide, which Lázaro initially accepted because it improved their food situation. A brother was born, but their happiness was short-lived when Zaide was caught stealing and whipped.
A blind man came to the inn, and Lázaro’s mother entrusted him to serve as a guide. Lázaro’s mother gave him permission, and Lázaro departed with the blind man. The blind man was astute and taught Lázaro much about the harshness of life. However, he was also greedy and barely fed Lázaro. Eventually, Lázaro, tired of his situation, tricked the blind man into crashing against a post, thus escaping his servitude.
Second Treaty: The Greedy Cleric
In this treaty, Lázaro meets a cleric who offers him a job. Lázaro fared poorly, as the cleric was avaricious and did not feed him properly. Growing desperate, Lázaro began to steal bread from the Mass to eat. He obtained a copy of the key to the trunk where the bread was kept and ate it at night. The cleric, initially suspecting mice, eventually discovered Lázaro’s deception and dismissed him.
Third Treaty: The Impoverished Squire
Lázaro arrived in Toledo, where he survived on alms for fifteen days. He then encountered a well-dressed squire, who became his next master. Their new home was poorly lit and lacked furniture. Lázaro realized that the squire, despite his appearance, was impoverished. Lázaro had to beg for food, sharing his gains with the squire. When the local government banned begging, Lázaro, fortunately, received food from some neighbors. The squire went without eating for eight days until he obtained a *real* and sent Lázaro to buy food at the market. Later, the owners of the squire’s house came to collect rent, but the squire made excuses and disappeared, leaving Lázaro once again without a master.