# The Blind Man — The Life of Lazarillo de Tormes character guide

> The Blind Man in The Life of Lazarillo de Tormes by Anonymous.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** the blind man

**First appearance:** 0009-first-master

## Snapshot

A sightless beggar who claims to teach prayer but trains his boy in hunger, cunning, and the art of the stolen sip.

## Who they are

Lazarillo's first master, he survives on alms and cleverness, keeping his wine and sausages under lock while his servant starves beside him. He is cruel, shrewd, and oddly instructive, beating the boy for every failed trick yet sharpening the very wits that will eventually undo him. Their contest of appetite and vigilance sets the book's comic engine in motion and gives Lazarillo his first hard lesson in self-reliance.

## Relationships

### [Lazarillo de Tormes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_lazarillo_de_tormes_se/characters/lazarillo_de_tormes)

_psychological_

Lazarillo serves as the blind man's guide and pupil, enduring cruel tricks and learning cunning survival skills from his master.

### [The Squire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_lazarillo_de_tormes_se/characters/the_squire)

_social_

The blind man and the squire are acquaintances who cross paths in the same social circles, sharing stories and occasional dealings.

### [The Archpriest's Maid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_lazarillo_de_tormes_se/characters/the_archpriests_maid)

_romantic_

The Archpriest's maid and the blind man have a flirtatious and secretive relationship, marked by mutual attraction and manipulation.

### [Lazarillo de Tormes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_lazarillo_de_tormes_se/characters/lazarillo_de_tormes)

_psychological_

Lazarillo serves as the blind man's guide and pupil, enduring cruel tricks and learning cunning survival skills from his master.

### [The Archpriest's Maid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_lazarillo_de_tormes_se/characters/the_archpriests_maid)

_romantic_

The Archpriest's maid and the blind man have a flirtatious and secretive relationship, marked by mutual attraction and manipulation.

### [The Squire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_lazarillo_de_tormes_se/characters/the_squire)

_social_

The blind man and the squire are acquaintances who cross paths in the same social circles, sharing stories and occasional dealings.

### [The Archpriest's Maid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_lazarillo_de_tormes_se/characters/the_archpriests_maid)

_romantic_

The Archpriest's maid and the blind man have a flirtatious and secretive relationship, marked by mutual attraction and manipulation.

## In the story

### [Introductory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_lazarillo_de_tormes_se/chapters/introductory)

First master, a cunning beggar who teaches Lazarillo harsh lessons.

### [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)

Lazaro's first master, a clever and plausible old rascal who treats Lazaro abominably. His professional cleverness and knowledge are described, and Lazaro's cruel revenge against him is noted.

### [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)

Lazaro's first master, a cunning and cruel beggar who teaches Lazaro harsh lessons in survival.

### [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)

Not yet introduced; mentioned in the chapter title as a future master.

### [First Master](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_lazarillo_de_tormes_se/chapters/first-master)

Lazaro's first master, astute and avaricious, who teaches him survival but abuses him.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_lazarillo_de_tormes_se/characters/the_blind_man
- 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