# Lazarillo de Tormes — The Life of Lazarillo de Tormes character guide > Lazarillo de Tormes in The Life of Lazarillo de Tormes by Anonymous. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Lazarillo, Lazaro, Lazaro de Tormes, Poor Lazaro **First appearance:** 0006-the-life-of-lazarillo-de-tormes ## Snapshot A hungry boy born in a river mill, he narrates his own survival through a gauntlet of masters who teach him that wit outlasts virtue. ## Who they are Born to a thief and a washwoman and passed along as a servant, Lazarillo learns early that his belly, not his honor, sets the terms of each day. His voice is sly, self-deprecating, and startlingly modern: he confesses shame without surrendering his appetite for a better life. Because he narrates the early episodes as a grown man addressing a patron, every childhood trick doubles as evidence in his own defense, making the reader his confidant and his judge. ## Relationships ### [The Blind Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_lazarillo_de_tormes_se/characters/the_blind_man) _psychological_ Lazarillo serves as the blind man's guide and pupil, enduring cruel tricks and learning cunning survival skills from his master. ### [The Priest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_lazarillo_de_tormes_se/characters/the_priest) _professional_ Lazarillo works as the priest's servant, but the priest starves him and hoards food, creating a relationship of exploitation and resentment. ### [The Squire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_lazarillo_de_tormes_se/characters/the_squire) _professional_ Lazarillo serves the impoverished squire, who appears noble but is actually destitute, and they share a bond of mutual need and pity. ### [The Archpriest's Maid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_lazarillo_de_tormes_se/characters/the_archpriests_maid) _romantic_ Lazarillo marries the Archpriest's maid, but their relationship is complicated by rumors of infidelity and the Archpriest's influence. ### [Íñigo López de Mendoza](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_lazarillo_de_tormes_se/characters/inigo_lopez_de_mendoza) _social_ Íñigo and Lazarillo are acquaintances, with Íñigo occasionally offering patronage or advice to Lazarillo in his rise. ### [Doña Eleanor Hurtado](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_lazarillo_de_tormes_se/characters/dona_eleanor_hurtado) _social_ Doña Eleanor and Lazarillo are acquaintances, with her occasionally showing kindness or indifference to his plight. ### [Cervantes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_lazarillo_de_tormes_se/characters/cervantes) _professional_ Cervantes, as a writer, engages with Lazarillo as a literary character, reflecting on his story and social commentary. ### [Diego Hurtado de Mendoza](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_lazarillo_de_tormes_se/characters/diego_hurtado_de_mendoza) _social_ Diego and Lazarillo are acquaintances, with Diego occasionally observing or commenting on Lazarillo's rise in society. ### [The Blind Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_lazarillo_de_tormes_se/characters/the_blind_man) _psychological_ Lazarillo serves as the blind man's guide and pupil, enduring cruel tricks and learning cunning survival skills from his master. ### [The Priest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_lazarillo_de_tormes_se/characters/the_priest) _professional_ Lazarillo works as the priest's servant, but the priest starves him and hoards food, creating a relationship of exploitation and resentment. ### [The Squire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_lazarillo_de_tormes_se/characters/the_squire) _professional_ Lazarillo serves the impoverished squire, who appears noble but is actually destitute, and they share a bond of mutual need and pity. ## In the story ### [Introductory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_lazarillo_de_tormes_se/chapters/introductory) Protagonist and narrator, introduces his birth and early life. ### [The Book, Lazarillo de Tormes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_lazarillo_de_tormes_se/chapters/the-book-lazarillo-de-tormes) The protagonist of the work, whose story is the subject of the book discussed. ### [Notes on the Character of Lazaro](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_lazarillo_de_tormes_se/chapters/notes-on-the-character-of-lazaro) The protagonist, portrayed as a boy of good disposition and fine instincts, whose bad qualities are due to his lowly birth and vicious surroundings. His resourcefulness and ingenuity are highlighted, as well as his kindness and tact with the penniless esquire. ### [The Life of Lazarillo de Tormes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_lazarillo_de_tormes_se/chapters/the-life-of-lazarillo-de-tormes) The protagonist and narrator, born in the River Tormes, who recounts his life of hardship and service. ### [Prologue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_lazarillo_de_tormes_se/chapters/prologue) The narrator and protagonist, who introduces his life story as a remarkable tale worth telling. ### [I: Lazaro Relates the Way of His Birth and Tells Whose Son He Is](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_lazarillo_de_tormes_se/chapters/i-lazaro-relates-the-way-of-his-birth-and-tells-whose-son-he-is) Narrator and protagonist; recounts his birth and early childhood. ### [First Master](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_lazarillo_de_tormes_se/chapters/first-master) Begins service with the blind man, learns cunning, and eventually escapes. ### [Second Master](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_lazarillo_de_tormes_se/chapters/second-master) Lazaro takes service with a miserly clergyman and uses his wits to survive starvation, stealing bread from the priest's locked chest. He is eventually discovered and beaten. ### [Third Master](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_lazarillo_de_tormes_se/chapters/third-master) Lazaro takes service with a new master, the esquire, and becomes the provider for both, begging for food and sharing his meager earnings. ### [Fourth Master](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_lazarillo_de_tormes_se/chapters/fourth-master) Lazaro seeks and takes service with his fourth master, a friar, but leaves due to the excessive walking and other unmentioned grievances. ### [Fifth Master](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_lazarillo_de_tormes_se/chapters/fifth-master) Narrator and servant to the seller of indulgences; observes the trick and reflects on the deceit. ### [Sixth Master](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_lazarillo_de_tormes_se/chapters/sixth-master) Lazaro takes service with a painter and then a chaplain, learning to carry water and eventually saving enough to dress respectably. ### [Seventh Master](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_lazarillo_de_tormes_se/chapters/seventh-master) Narrator; leaves constable's service, gains government post, marries, and defends wife's honor. ### [Sketch Map of the Route from Salamanca to Toledo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_lazarillo_de_tormes_se/chapters/sketch-map-of-the-route-from-salamanca-to-toledo) The protagonist whose journey from Salamanca to Toledo is the subject of the map. ### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_lazarillo_de_tormes_se/chapters/endnotes) Referenced in notes about his age and the Gelves expedition. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_lazarillo_de_tormes_se/characters/lazarillo_de_tormes - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_lazarillo_de_tormes_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_lazarillo_de_tormes_se/characters