The Life of Lazarillo de Tormes
Prologue: The Pro’s Logo
This logo justifies the story of Lázaro. It summarizes the justification for this story. The justification is that Lázaro, having inherited wealth and fortune, had great merit. But even greater merit belonged to the person who served the rich man and worked his way out of poverty.
What do we call this style? Epistolary style.
Treaty 1
What is the verbal equivalent of “this,” and what did Lázaro mean with that expression? Do you think his father is blessed? “This” refers to universal truths. Lázaro hopes his father is well, wherever he is. The intention of stealing was good, and “blessedness” refers to this good intention.
This treaty contains a rich historical reference that helps us determine the date of the work. What is it? Relate it to the historical fact mentioned in the final treaty. This treaty mentions a crusade or “expedition against the Moors.” The seventh treaty speaks of an emperor who arrived in Toledo, connecting it to the conquest of the Americas.
What does the protagonist mean by “good?” Is this an ethical attitude? What personality trait does it suggest? How do these allusions contribute to the structural coherence of the work? “Good” refers to people who are rich, educated, and wealthy. It refers to those who can maintain or profit from their fortune. This is not ethical; it’s a contemptible value. It suggests greed and self-interest. These allusions create a consistent portrayal of Lázaro’s perspective and the social dynamics of the time.
Why does Lázaro change his opinion about his mother’s lover? Because food became scarce, and money ran out.
What reflection does Lázaro make about himself after the experience with the bull statue? Lázaro, upon entering Salamanca, encountered a stone bull. The blind man told him that if he put his ear to it, he would hear a noise. The blind man then tricked Lázaro, striking him with a club. After this, Lázaro says he awoke from his childhood dreams and learned to care for himself.
Briefly describe the moral qualities of the blind man. The blind man is depicted as evil (tricking Lázaro at the bridge), cunning and shrewd (cleverly deceiving people), and greedy (barely feeding Lázaro).
In which two provinces does this treaty take place? Toledo and Salamanca.
Treaty 2
Define three adjectives to describe the cleric of Maqueda: What vision of him does the author seek to give us? Greedy, selfish, and faithless. The author portrays him as a miserly man concerned only with his own needs.
How many times does Lázaro eat at the cleric’s house before getting the key to the chest? Saturdays and when someone died. Lázaro even prayed for deaths so he could eat.
Briefly explain the tricks employed by master and servant to achieve their goals. Lázaro tricks the cleric by having a blacksmith make a copy of the chest key. He exchanges food for the key, initially satisfying his hunger. The cleric suspects nothing. Lázaro then replaces the bread he eats with crusts, blaming mice and a snake. Eventually, the cleric discovers the key in Lázaro’s mouth. The cleric’s trickery involves patching the holes in the chest.
Treaty 3
What cautions Lázaro about the misery of his new master? Lázaro observes his new master (the squire) returning home in the afternoon without food, despite having been out all day. This reminds Lázaro of his time with the blind man and prompts him to beg for food, which he shares with the squire.
How would you characterize the squire? A liar who maintains a facade of economic stability while actually being impoverished.
What feelings do Lázaro’s masters inspire in him? What is now the main factor influencing the master-servant relationship? Lázaro feels pity for the squire’s lack of food and contempt for the cleric’s greed. He also feels some emotional connection to the blind man, who taught him valuable lessons. The main factor in the master-servant relationship is now food.
What amusing event does Lázaro recount? Lázaro overhears women at a funeral saying the deceased would go to a dark and gloomy place. He runs home and tells his master, finding humor in the comparison to their own dark and gloomy house.
After reading the first three treaties, what is the main theme? What has each master contributed to Lázaro’s development? The main theme is Lázaro’s resourcefulness in obtaining food. The blind man taught him how to deceive people, the cleric forced him to develop his cunning, and the squire taught him to distrust his masters.
Treaty 4 and 5
In the brief Treaty 4, Lázaro serves a Mercedarian friar. What do you think is the function of this treaty? To criticize the Church. It shows how the Church’s ministers (religious figures) fail to live up to the doctrines they preach.
What role does Lázaro play? What were the bulls? Lázaro is a spectator. The “bulls” were indulgences sold by the Church to forgive sins.
Treaty 6
What is Lázaro’s current situation? He has stopped being poor and now lives honestly, eating properly.
How much time did he spend with the chaplain? Four years.
Treaty 7
Connect this treaty to the blind man’s prophecy in the first part. After working as a water carrier, Lázaro becomes a town crier and wine seller. He uses his understanding to advise buyers and sellers, benefiting from the transactions. This connects to the blind man’s prophecy about Lázaro’s future involving wine.
What are the rumors about Lázaro’s wife? What does Lázaro think about this? People murmur that Lázaro’s wife provides services to his master. Lázaro is aware of this but chooses to ignore it for his own benefit.
From a moral standpoint? Lázaro’s material situation has improved, but his morality is questionable because he tolerates his wife’s relationship with his master for personal gain.