Lazarillo de Tormes: Social Class and Honor in 16th Century Spain

Treaty 3

Lazarus lives with a squire, a low-level, impoverished noble. The squire strives to maintain a false image of wealth and respectability. Lazarus, pitying his master's pretensions, often feeds him.

Lazarus symbolizes reality, unconcerned with public opinion. The squire, in contrast, represents appearance, a proud and arrogant person who lies to conceal his poverty.

With no food in the house, the squire pretends he has eaten too much and goes out, picking his teeth. Lazarus begs in the streets due to hunger. When the squire learns this, he begs himself to avoid damaging his honor and to let people know that Lazarus is his servant.

One morning, an elderly man demands rent. The squire promises payment that afternoon, then goes to the square. Lazarus is initially blamed but later declared innocent and freed.

Treaty 7

Lazarus is the subject of your letter. After a dangerous constable job, Lazarus serves a Dean who suggests he marry a maid. Lazarus, now a town crier, marries for personal gain. The Dean desires this marriage to disguise his affair with Lazarus's wife. Lazarus, aware of the rumors, ignores them, having achieved some happiness and renown in the city by sacrificing his honor and accepting his wife's infidelities. He claims to be content and that the Dean provides necessary support. His wife, discovering Lazarus's suspicions about her affair with the archpriest, becomes angry. Eventually, matters are resolved, and Lazarus is happily married with a good job.