# The Squire — The Life of Lazarillo de Tormes character guide

> The Squire in The Life of Lazarillo de Tormes by Anonymous.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** my master, my good master

**First appearance:** 0011-third-master

## Snapshot

A gentleman in a threadbare doublet who starves in silence, preferring empty dignity to honest work or a shared meal.

## Who they are

Lazarillo's third master, he owns nothing but his lineage and a carefully brushed coat, and he would rather go hungry than admit poverty to a servant. For the first time the boy must beg on someone else's behalf, discovering that pride can be as ravenous as any stomach. Their strange, tender arrangement complicates the novel's satire, turning contempt into something closer to pity and giving Lazarillo a mirror of his own precarious respectability.

## Relationships

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

_professional_

Lazarillo serves the impoverished squire, who appears noble but is actually destitute, and they share a bond of mutual need and pity.

### [The Blind Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_lazarillo_de_tormes_se/characters/the_blind_man)

_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)

_social_

The Archpriest's maid and the squire are casual acquaintances, often meeting in the context of the Archpriest's household.

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

_rivalry_

The priest and the squire are rivals in social standing, each looking down on the other's poverty or greed.

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

_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)

_social_

The Archpriest's maid and the squire are casual acquaintances, often meeting in the context of the Archpriest's household.

### [The Blind Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_lazarillo_de_tormes_se/characters/the_blind_man)

_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)

_social_

The Archpriest's maid and the squire are casual acquaintances, often meeting in the context of the Archpriest's household.

## In the story

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

Third master, a penniless nobleman who relies on Lazarillo's begging.

### [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 third master, a penniless esquire with excessive pride. Lazaro begs to support him, showing kindness, generosity, and tact. The esquire's views on honor are noted as typical of the time.

### [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 third master, a penniless nobleman who relies on Lazaro's begging to eat.

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

The esquire appears well-dressed but is actually penniless and proud, relying on Lazaro's begging to survive while maintaining a facade of respectability.

## Links

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