The Life of
Lazarillo de Tormes:
His Fortunes & His Adversities
Lazarillo de Tormes
• Published anonymously in
1554.
• Was banned by the
Spanish Crown
• Social Climate of Spain
– strong trend toward racial
and religious prejudice
– emphasis placed on
appearances
Lazarillo de Tormes
• Created a literary genre:
the picaresque novel
(rogue or rascal)
– Huckleberry Finn
• The main character
exposes injustice while
entertaining the reader
Francisco de Goya,
(anterior a 1812)
• Cervantes actually
mentions this work in Don
Quixote de la Mancha
Lazarillo de Tormes
• The author shows us the
various levels of society as
the main character
changes jobs.
• This work is unusual
because it depicts a
pauper and a thief and not
nobility or “high-born”
characters.
Lazarillo de Tormes
• It’s also unusual because it
treats the main character
as a an child and not a
“small adult.”
• It gives us a look at the
“domestic” poor.
• Although it employs
stereotypes, it treats topics
such as racial injustice and
interracial relationships.
Lazarillo de Tormes
• The main character
starts out as an
innocent.
• Society corrupts him.
• Shows us a view from
the “underbelly” of
society.
Lazarillo de Tormes
This story takes place in locations all
around Spain, starting in Salamanca.
The stone bull statue that Lazaro
mentions in the first chapter.
Bridge over the River Tormes
Salamanca, Spain
(dates back to Roman times)
Lazarillo de Tormes
• Lazarillo attacks the
appearance of the church
and it’s hypocrisy – but not
its beliefs.
• Four of his seven masters
served the church.
• Each successive masters
rises up the social scale.
Statue near the bridge over the River
Tormes in Salamanca, Spain.
Lazarillo de Tormes
You need to keep track of:
•
•
•
•
•
Lazarillo’s masters (by their jobs)
What happens with each
How he leaves to go to the next
Elements / examples of satire
How hunger is the driving force
Lazarillo de Tormes
LAZARO’S MASTERS
1:
2:
3:
4:
5:
6:
7:
Blind Man
Priest
Squire
Friar
Pardoner
Chaplain
Constable
Lazarillo de Tormes
• Also keep in mind the idea
of appearance versus reality.
• Almost nothing is what
it seems in this story.
• Watch for how this story is critical of
the church, social customs, and
society of the day.