Irony in Lazarillo De Tormes

¶ … heard of the story of Don Quijote because of the musical "Man of La Mancha" about this pitied character, there is another piece of literature that was written in Spain approximately the same time of 1544 that is just as noteworthy. This is called Life of Lazarillo de Tormes (by Anonymous). Both of these publications were examples of a new literary genre, the picaresque novel, which was usually satiric in fashion and depicted in realistic and humorous detail the adventures of a roguish hero of low social degree living by his or her wits in a corrupt society: he/she is a "picaro" who serves several masters and must use mischief and/or deceit to escape defeat, failure and starvation. Irony, comedy and satire run throughout the book, as the author continually makes light of the main character and all those with whom he has contact. In addition, the author uses Lazarillo's life to refer back from time to stories of the Old and New Testaments that were so much in the forefront at this time period.

Look at Lazarillo's life, for example, with all its ups and downs, and ups and downs, and more downs. He was born in a river, recalling Moses who was found among the bulrushes in the Old Testament. However, unlike this Biblical leader, his life does not proceed with a wealthy Pharaoh -- far from it. His father, whose job was to watch over grinding in a local water mill, is accused of stealing and arrested. He confesses the crime and suffers punishment for justice's sake, reminding readers of the words of the New Testament in John 1:20 (And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, "No.") and Matthew 5:10 (Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven).

Despite the fact that life becomes even more abominable (the new master has a tendency of saying thing such as "Stupid, learn this: a blind man's boy must be at least one point sharper than the devil," and even "laughed loudly at his joke") the beggar Lazarillo in cleverness and deceit. In fact, one can easily say that this time allowed the young boy to learn how to deal with the master of evil, himself. However, the book never becomes so negative and weighty that it loses its ability to make readers laugh. The scene in this section about Lazarillo stealing a sausage from the blind man is told in great detail and entertainment.

This is only the first of many masters along the way of Lazarillo's life. He soon learns moves on to a clergyman who (sarcasm here abounds) treats the boy no better than a dog, pushing "the well-gnawed bones, tossing them on (his) plate and saying: take them, eat all you want, have yourself a feast; the world is yours. Why, you live better than the Pope." Lazarillo quickly adds greed to his list of characteristics after cruelty from his first master and finds that knowledge alone is useless and God exists in death as well as life. In fact, Lazarillo sees life and death as one and the same, saying: "I think He (God) was glad to kill them off to give me life...(and) on the days when we buried somebody I would live."

Lazarillo next meets, because of the blessing of God, the squire, who finally shows him some goodness. He learns manners and way of dress. However, the symbolism, parodies, ironies and confusions continue. For example, Lazarillo sees the squire's house as a tomb where the two are buried. Further, Lazarillo hears a woman crying over her husband's death and accidentally thinks it is the squire's corpse being carried. Despite or because of the goodness of his new master, however, Lazarillo has to use the tricks and deception he has learn in the past to keep them both alive. Now, it is his time to sacrifice for others.

With time, Lazarillo goes with a number of other masters, learning something new each time. Another religious irony occurs when he gets a job somewhat like his father's and repeats the earlier words of "go along with those who suffer persecution for the sake of justice and cry out their crimes," once again recalling Christ's Sermon on the Mountain in Matthew 5:10: "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake" (Matthew 5: 10 and 7:2-5) and "for in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you (and)...you hypocrite, first take the plunk out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

The greatest paradox and irony of all is that somehow Lazarillo is not corrupted with all of his experiences. No one is spared by the author as being free of negative human traits: parents, clergy, nobles and, by extension, the readers themselves, are criticized. Over the seven sections of the book, seven days of creation, he learns the evils of the world, but they do not overcome him. Lazaro probably remembers what his mother told him when they parted many years before: "Try to be good, and may God guide you." He gets married to a concubine of the archpriest, but questions remain whether or not his wife remains faithful or has relationships with the archpriest. Using his wits he has gained a place in society at the cost of adapting to its deceitful practices. Somehow, through his innate goodness or by chance, he is perhaps able to rise above the world around him.