Article Summary
Lazarillo of Tormes is a renowned novel written by an unknown author who seemed to come from Spain. The novel came up with stories that filled the Spanish community with the kind of knight stories and romance that the people yearned for. The author is embellished to have had his manuscripts printed in Burgos, Antwerp and Alcala de Henares. The one from Alcala de Henares had more episodes compared to the other two. His work was mostly critical of the clergy leading to the redaction of some episodes in the early years of 1559. Spain allowed its original version to be printed in the 19th century. Given the nature of the work, the artist’s identity has always remained a mystery, although most people assumed that the author was a Jew due to the Christian phrases in his works.
Given the ideology of the novel, many other writers criticized the book claiming that it did not represent 16th century Spain as people relegated it to have. The 16th century was characterized by the King of Spain endeavoring in foreign wars beyond its borders, which was an expensive endeavor. The King had to borrow from Italian and German bankers to fund the war to the extent that all of Spain’s gold had to use to pay the debt. The phenomenon relegated the nation to grow ever poorer and bring out the true colors of society, especially in the clergy that was perceived as holy. This is the side that Lazarillo sought to bring out in his story. Critics asserted that there was a different part of the society that was not showcased in the novel – the society that that was not corrupt and evil. The society was noble and rich during the same period. The novelty of the book, however, pushed other authors like Luna to write sequels to the stories. It is only Luna’s version that exhibited the same ingenuity the original author had.
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The Life of Lazarillo De Tormes
Chapter 1
Lazarillo de Tormes was born to a mother named Antonia Perez and a father, Thomas Gonzalez, which does not explain how he got his name Tormes. Tormes stands for a river which Lazarillo was born in when his mother went into labor at the river mill his father was working. While working at the mill, Lazarus’ father (Thomas) was involved in some mischief, and his fateful day caught up with him. He lost his employment, and the justice of that error was served. Thomas opted to go and fight for the religious course and was killed in battle, forcing Antonia, Lazarus’ mother, to seek status in society by associating with people of character. She opened an eating-house in the city of Salamanca where she fell in love with a colored man who was later found thieving leading to their ouster from the town. In the new location where the mother delved in different odd jobs, she managed to meet the acquittance of an old blind priest who was impressed by Lazarillo’s assistance, and after being propped up by the mother, Lazarillo was taken up by his new master.
His first master, a blind old priest who worked in Salamanca, was well respected in the community. Lazarus and his new master had to move locations into another region because the profits were not quite sufficient in Salamanca. The blind man was a cunning old soul and taught Lazarillo about the tricks of life. On their way, they got to a bridge where the old wise blind man gave Lazarus his first life lesson. He was tricked into listening to the sound that would come out of a bull carving beside the bridge, and while placing his head next to it to listen, the old man bashed Lazarus’ head in the statue, causing him pain for three days. His acknowledgment to Lazarus was that he should be as cunning as the devil to survive the world of that time. As they grew fonder of each other, Lazarus was treated to the realities of life, whereas his master made lots of profits and had riches in food; Lazarus only got little of it rendering him hungry most of the time.
Chapter 2
Lazarus parts ways with the old man finally after administering his last blow o vengeance and went to Maqueda, where he met a master who was also a priest. The priest took him in, given his previous experience gained through the time with the old man. The priest was also stingy, locking food in a wooden chest and only treating Lazarus to an onion ever four days. These dire situations forced Lazarus to devise ways he could survive. In the climax of the moment, Lazarus is injured by his master who takes care of him before he heals and then let go.
Chapter 3
Lazarillo then moves to Toledo. In Toledo, the harsh environment forces him to rely on door to door charity from well-wishers until he meets a good-looking esquire that takes him up as a new master; a master that turned out to be poor but kind to help the people around him. Lazarillo had to continue begging for scraps but differently using the name of the Lord and that of his master. One day his master comes home with a real equivalent to 64 Blanc as fortune smiled upon his master and Lazarus got some to enjoy part of it as they ate well for the next few weeks. One day, two creditors knocked upon their door, a man and a woman asking for rent from the master. Master replied that they should come in the afternoon because he needed to fetch loose money from the market. They obliged and came back in the afternoon but master had left and did not ever return; yet another drawback because Lazarus has no one to depend on.
Chapter 4
Lazaro was left alone and had to seek the help of his former master’s neighbors. They helped find a fourth master, a friar from the monastery who hated spending time in the monastery but loved to wonder around and visit people. His new master gave him his first pair of shoes but they didn’t even last a week because of the wondering they used to do. Lazarillo use to get to much exhausted from the running around and coupled with some other reasons that the he said he would not mention decided to leave the friar after a short while.
Chapter 5
Lazaro meets his fifth master while still in Toledo. He is called the seller of indulgences or the pardoner. The new master is a cunning and ruthless salesman as described by Lazarillo. The pardoner used theatrics and trickery to sell indulgences to people in towns and villages. However, the pardoner has been preaching in the region of Toledo for three days and has not sold a single indulgence. Therefore, that night at the inn a constable accuses him of selling false indulgences and they get into an argument. The next day the pardoner requests the church to ring the bells so that he could give a sermon. When in church people are whispering about the fake indulgences and in walks the constable shouting that the pardoner’s indulgences are fake. The pardoner says he is lying and God will punish him and if what he said is true then god will punish him for selling fake indulgences. The constable fell to the ground and began foaming while convulsing at the legs. The pardoner when into at a religious trance and when it all ended, he put an indulgence on the constable’s forehead causing him to wake up. People believed in the indulgence and everyone in the church bought one. Lazarillo was also fooled at first but he caught on soon. Lazaro states that he wouldn’t dare expose his master because he was afraid of him. He mentions that he suffered a lot of hardships but with this master he was well fed.
Chapter 6
The next master is a tambourine painter and Lazarillo helps him with mixing of tambourine colors. Lazaro says that through the master he still suffers and had to leave. He enters a cathedral and meets a chaplain who gives him a job to take care of four jugs of water and a mule. Lazaro sells water in the streets and splits the profit with his chaplain surmounting to the best four years of his life as he maintained a steady diet and was able to save some money. When he had saved enough, he bought a jacket, a cloak and a sword. He returned the mule and quite his job.
Chapter 7
Lazarillo settles down to work with a constable (different from the one with the pardoner) because he believed working for the government meant meeting no obstacles. However, one day the constable was attacked by fugitives and Lazaro decided to leave him. He then finds work as a town crier where he makes announcements and advertises wine. One day the archpriest of San Salvador notices him for his wine selling skills and arranges for Lazaro to marry one of the maids in his service whop turns out to be a good and dutiful woman. The archpriest rents a house for them besides theirs, continues to gift them with bread and old stockings and invite them for a shared meal on Sundays. Although he is faced with rumors of the wife’s infidelities, the archpriest assures him that his wife’s honor is still intact and that he should pay no attention. Lazarillo complies and declares anyone spreading the rumors a mortal enemy. Lazarillo notes that all this happened when the emperor took residency in Toledo. He tells the readers that he has found fortune and that he will keep the reader posted of the next happenings.
