Lazarillo de Tormes: Chapters and Literary Analysis

Summary of the Treaties in Lazarillo de Tormes

Treaty II: The Cleric of Maqueda

In this part, the theme of hunger intensifies. Lázaro's master, the cleric, fails to provide, forcing Lázaro to devise all sorts of stratagems and invent tricks to survive and find food.

Treaty III: The Squire

The theme of hunger culminates in this treaty. Lázaro serves a proud, yet extremely poor, squire who values a sense of honor above all else. Lázaro, already a child with experience, quickly discerns the squire's true, hidden situation.

Treaty IV: The Friar of Mercy

This section breaks the narrative rhythm. The reader takes on the role of an observer, and the narrator does not delve into Lázaro's psychological development. Instead, it describes Lázaro's service to a friar.

Treaty V: The Pardoner

Lázaro's master in this treaty is a pardoner, a man who sells papal bulls that grant privileges or dispense from certain religious obligations. The pardoner is portrayed as cunning and brazen. Lázaro, witnessing the pardoner's deceptions, learns to stay on the sidelines and remain quiet.

Treaty VI: The Painter and the Water-Carrier

Lázaro serves two masters in this treaty. With the second, the water-carrier, he stays for four years. During this time, Lázaro decides to save money from his work to buy new clothes and a sword, marking his transition from adolescence to adulthood.

Treaty VII: The Archpriest of San Salvador

Lázaro mentions that he abandoned a previous position as a bailiff because it was dangerous. After enduring so many hardships, he arrives as a town crier, demonstrating strength and cunning. He has been socially promoted and shows satisfaction with his situation, reaching the peak of his fortune.

Characteristics of the Novel

The Protagonist: Lázaro as an Antihero

Lázaro is presented as a modern antihero due to his humble social origins and how he navigates the world, evolving alongside the other characters. The work portrays an educational process, ironically showing how Lázaro's journey parallels his learning of corruption.

Style and Themes

• Humor and Criticism: The novel employs humor, including sharp social and religious criticism, often ridiculing various figures.
• Social Commentary: The structure of the work allows readers to witness the hardships of the poor during that era, the harshness of justice, and moral miseries.
• Irony and Comedy: While falsehood is a prominent theme, the overall tone of the work is characterized by irony and comedy.
• Author's Intentions: The author's intentions include evaluating personal virtue and highlighting the virtue of those who, despite being poor, manage to ascend socially.
• Language: The language is often simple, natural, and colloquial. However, the predominant style is coarse, utilizing popular turns of phrase and proverbs. The narrative is marked by the author's cunning, ironic, and humorous tone.