Lazarillo de Tormes Chapter I Flashcards

Lazarillo de Tormes Chapter I Overview

• Lazarillo's parents are Antona Perez and Tome Gonzales.
• He got his name from being born in the river Tormes.

Family Background

• Lazarillo's father worked as a miller.
• After being accused of theft, his father was arrested and sent to fight the Moors.
• Lazarillo's mother turned to prostitution following his father's death.

Zaide's Influence

• Zaide is a black man who fathered a child with Antona Perez.
• Lazarillo's life improved when Zaide began stealing barley and other items to support the family.
• When caught, Zaide was beaten and tarred; Lazarillo's mother lost her job and couldn't take him in.

Introduction to the Blind Man

• Lazarillo’s mother begged a blind man to take him in as his guide.
• Lazaro left Salamanca due to insufficient alms received from the blind man.
• His first sign of impending abuse from the blind man was a violent encounter involving a stone bull.

Life with the Blind Man

• Lazarillo learned to be vigilant and self-reliant through hard experiences.
• The blind man made money by predicting baby genders, offering prayers for childbirth and marital issues, and treating ailments.

Lazarillo's Theft Techniques

• Lazarillo stole food by manipulating a seam in the blind man's bag.
• He switched coins by concealing larger ones in his mouth, deceiving the blind man with smaller coins.
• He ingeniously drank wine by creating a hole in the jug, allowing wax to drip when heated by the fire.

Consequences and Revenge

• Upon discovering Lazarillo drinking his wine, the blind man retaliated violently by smashing the jug against Lazarillo's face.
• In revenge, Lazarillo led the blind man down difficult and muddy paths.

Further Attempts at Deception

• He attempted to cheat the blind man by eating multiple grapes at once instead of one at a time.
• Lazarillo exchanged a turnip for a sausage on a spit.

Departure from the Blind Man

• Lazarillo eventually left the blind man after leading him into a pillar while crossing a muddy street.
• His next master was a priest, marking a new chapter in his life.