Anti-Virtuos Society in Lazarilo de Tormes

The protagonist, Lázaro, is motivated throughout his journeys by the need to feed himself. While living with his mother, she becomes intimate with another man who Lázaro was not partial to until, he states, “…as soon as I realized that his visits meant better food for us, I grew to like him (p.7)”. This man, Zaid, also provided their home with the firewood that kept them warm throughout the winter. As time progresses, he is sent to a blind beggar that can better provide him with food and shelter. However, it is apparent that the only way to obtain sustenance is through thievery. Instead of searching for affection and love in Lázaro’s master, he searches f

The sanctity of religion is manifested through external appearances as well. The indulgence seller is another of the many masters of Lázaro. He takes him as a worker in order to help him sell indulgences, which are sold to people who want to decrease their relative’s life in purgatory. Funded by the government, these sellers are also protected by them. Therefore, the indulgence seller’s job has allowed him to benefit from the faith of others while he finances the government. Although his occupation may seem charitable and sacred, he is only masquerading around in this manner to conceal the fact that he is not. In addition to this, sermons were mainly held to collect offerings from the congregation. For example, the indulgence seller was described as making “…everyone weep (as generally occurs at Good Friday sermons, when the preacher and the listeners are devout) (89).” Delicately implied with this statement, priests and the indulgence sellers cause the listeners to become vulnerable thereby becoming more charitable. As mentioned previously, the mercedarian friar was also among the holy yet impure. Sacredness in religion was achieved through vows of virtues, one of which was chastity. However, the friar mentioned in Lazarillo de Tormes furtively meets with prostitutes and gives Lázaro “the first pair of shoes [he] ever wore out [his] life (81)”. This phrase possibly insinuates Lázaro’s first sexual relation, which the hallowed friar aided Lázaro in achieving. Furthermore, religion is preserved with the faith-filled capital that is given under the pretense of salvation.

The motivation and drive that these individuals possess, which bring them to the point of dismissing important virtues for simpler concepts, is due to their psychology. Lázaro unconsciously desires love b

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