The Setting of “Lather and Nothing Else”
The story is set
in the 20
th
Century in a Latin American Country
. In the course of the story, we learn that the country is ruled by a brutal military dictatorship. The action takes place in a barber's shop (where men go to get their haircut.)
What is the story lather and nothing else about?
“Lather and Nothing Else” is a short story written by Hernando Tellez, and is set in a Colombian town
that is facing an issue of insurgency
. The story begins with a man known as Captain Torres walking into a barber shop for a shave. … The barber comes to a decision that he won't stain his hands with blood.
Who are the character in the story lather and nothing else?
The main characters of this story are
the barber and Captain Tortes
. The barber was the protagonist and Tortes was the antagonist. The barber is a revolutionary, but Tortes is the head of the military regime that is trying to void revolutionary.
What type of character is Captain Torres in lather and nothing else?
Expert Answers
Captain Torres is
rather imperious
. He expects for his authority and commands to be obeyed without question. When he enters the barbershop, he issues an imperative, “Give me a shave.” No ceremony or small talk, no greeting or niceties; he is a man who is used to other people…
Why is Captain Torres the antagonist?
The antagonist in the story is Captain Torres.
He has killed many rebels and invites the barber to witness another killing
, where the victims will be humiliated and tortured in public. The captain shows no remorse for his actions. Instead, he seems to enjoy what he does.
What is the irony in lather and nothing else?
Irony.
The barber thinks about murdering the Captain while he's getting a shave but decides not to. The barber later finds out that the Captain was there to see if the barber would kill him or not.
What is the main conflict in lather and nothing else?
The main conflict in Lather And Nothing Else is
Barber vs Society
. The Barber (the protagonist) does not agree with the current government. He want change. This forces him to join the rebellion.
What does the razor symbolize in lather and nothing else?
A theme that the harbored razor symbolized was
life and death
because the razor in the barbors hands could have been used to keep Captain Torress's life or take his life.
What is the theme of the story just lather?
The theme of the story is
the barber's struggle with his own identity and his final choice of the type of man he wants to be
. Though he is not a hero of the revolution, the reader may find some heroism in the simple, honest values by which the barber chooses to define himself.
What is an example of foreshadowing in lather and nothing else?
In the story, foreshadowing happens
when the barber sharpens the razor while Captain Torres is in the chair
. That makes the reader think that maybe the barber will use the freshly sharpened razor on the Captain's throat. The captain is vulnerable in his position. We think he might die.
What is the foreshadowing in just lather that's all?
Foreshadowing:
All that is going to be on his hands is lather, not blood. Each person has his own place in the scheme of things
. He is a professional barber, not a murderer. … He rubbed his hands over his skin and felt it fresh, like new.
What is the climax of just lather that's all?
The climax is the most important and highest point of the story, when the protagonist makes an important decision. The climax is
when the barber decides not to kill captain Torres and says I am not a murderer and am only a barber
. barber keeps asking himself if he should kill Torres.
What is the mood or atmosphere of lather and nothing else throughout most of the story?
Author Hernando Téllez masterfully sets a
mood of high emotional tension
in the short story, “Lather and Nothing Else.” He uses concrete details such as words that connote different aspects of conflict to draw the reader in to experience the protagonist's moral dilemma.
What kind of man is Captain Torres?
Captain Torres is
the leader of the men who are hunting down the rebels
. He is brutal, cruel, and shrewd. He comes in to get a shave specifically because he is told by someone—he doesn't specify who exactly—that the barber will murder him; he wants to get his own measure of the man.
Who is the protagonist in the story just lather that all?
In the story of “Just Lather, That's all”, the protagonist of the story,
the barber
is faced with a, rather menacing decision that will affect his life forever. As a rebel, the barber is given the mission of assassinating the enemy of their cause: Captain Torres.
Is the barber a coward in lather and nothing else?
The barber is not a hero or a villain, but
neither is he a coward
. He is a man with perfectly normal fears, acting in a principled manner. At first glance, the barber seems like a coward because he has the opportunity to kill his enemy, Captain Torres, when he comes to his shop for a shave.
