Lazarillo 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

for any possible way to solve his hunger pains. Soon after the blind man abuses Lázaro enough, he departs and finds himself with a priest. As it is viewed in the many religions, bread is received to represent the love of Jesus Christ although; Lázaro worships it solely as his only source of food: “It seemed to me that, even if I didn’t have access to them, the sight of them would have consoled me (31).” Just observing this bread comforted Lázaro more than the presence of someone who esteemed him. Continuing on, he is employed by a nobleman. Seemingly more affectionate towards him, Lázaro eagerly anticipates food due to what his new master’s costume of wealth denotes. To Lázaro’s surprise, the nobleman is just as poor, hence, Lázaro is forced to solicit rations from the neighbors and steal from the funerals. With this guide, he seems to show more pity than resentment because both are equally famished. Ultimately, hunger for food and for status becomes his next goal. In the company of his next masters, he acquires food but, more importantly, he is able to buy himself clothes and a sword that would feign his importance. After achieving his primary objective of nourishment, he is able to proceed and to get married. However, this marriage is not a demonstration of love but rather of reputation. Above all, the necessity of hunger and acceptance superseded the necessity for love and friendship, but often the former was mistaken for those virtues of the latter.

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 but he does not need it. Therefore, his primordial needs of food and shelter dominate his entire course in life. Even though when he was younger and he grew to like Zaid because of his ability to provide, tha

Some topics in this essay:
Plainly Lázaro, Christ Lázaro, Accordingly Lazarillo, , Lastly Lázaro, lazarillo de, lazarillo de tormes, de tormes, indulgence seller, food shelter, able buy, mercedarian friar, prostitutes lázaro, anonymous author,