24 pages • 48 minutes read
Hernando TéllezLather and Nothing Else
Fiction | Short Story | YA | Published in 1950A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Themes
Consequences of Actions
Through the barber’s internal conflict, Téllez illustrates how actions have consequences, both immediate and long-term, and how these consequences can impact not only the individual but also the wider community.
The barber’s decision to simply shave or kill Torres has immediate consequences for both himself and Torres. The barber recognizes that if he kills Torres, he will face legal repercussions, and possibly even death. He would have to run away from his family and his business and lay low in fear of retribution. However, he also understands that if he chooses to simply shave Torres, he will be helping his enemy, and betraying his fellow revolutionaries, leading to more executions that will occur that very evening. This internal struggle is highlighted when the barber thinks to himself, “He would not suffer at all. And what would I do then with the body? Where would I hide it? I would have to flee, leave all this behind, take shelter very far away […] What a cowardly thing to do” (Paragraph 41).
Téllez also emphasizes the long-term consequences of the barber’s actions. The barber understands that if he kills Torres, it will only escalate the violence between the revolutionaries and the military, resulting in even more death and destruction. If he kills Torres, the military may send out even more violent captains to continue Torres’s legacy of execution. On the other hand, if he shaves Torres, he is helping to maintain peace and prevent further bloodshed. The barber reflects on this when he says, “What is to be gained by it? Nothing. Others and still others keep coming, and the first kills the second, and then they kill the next, and so on until everything becomes a sea of blood” (Paragraph 39). This internal conflict demonstrates that he is aware that a murderous decision not only affects his personal life but also the larger society he is a part of and trying to protect.
Finally, Téllez suggests that the consequences of actions are not always predictable or controllable. Even after the barber decides to shave Torres, he is unsure of what will happen. He worries that his decision will be perceived as a betrayal and that he will lose the respect and trust of his fellow revolutionaries. This is evident when the barber thinks to himself, “It was going to be very difficult to explain how it was that I had him in my hands and then let him go in peace, alive, clean-shaven” (Paragraph 36). The barber’s actions have consequences beyond what he can control, and these consequences may impact his relationships, his reputation, and his place in society. Furthermore, he suggests that consequences are not always predictable or controllable and that individuals must make difficult decisions in the face of uncertainty. Through his storytelling, Téllez encourages readers to consider the consequences of their actions and the impact they may have on others.
Knowledge, Power, and Control
Captain Torres wields his authority and control over the barber and the other revolutionaries, creating a power dynamic that is central to the story. Through the use of language and imagery, Téllez portrays the ways in which knowledge is tied to power and control in the story. Torres’s power is tied to his knowledge of the revolutionaries’ plans and his control over their lives. He hunts them down, brings them back to town, and executes them in front of everyone, daring more townspeople to rebel. When he enters the barbershop, Torres exerts power over the barber by asking him to shave his beard, which, understanding the power Torres has in the military and the barber’s position as a secret rebel, could result in the barber’s arrest or even death if he were to refuse. Torres’s power over the barber is also reinforced by his physical strength and the fact that he is armed, his pistol just feet away.
The imagery in the story also highlights the theme of knowledge, power, and control. The barber’s razor, which is a symbol of his profession, represents the power that comes with knowledge. As the barber contemplates whether or not to kill Torres, he thinks to himself, “You are an executioner; I am only a barber” (Paragraph 44). This statement highlights the barber’s struggle with the power he holds as a potential executioner. The razor, which represents his power as an executioner, becomes a symbol of the power struggle between the barber and Torres.
Téllez also explores the consequences of knowledge and power. Torres’s knowledge of the revolutionaries’ plans leads to the death of many of the barber’s comrades. The barber recognizes the consequences of his actions and the potential consequences of his inaction, saying, “But I don’t want to be a murderer” (Paragraph 44). The consequences of his decision will ultimately impact his sense of morality, as well as his relationships with his fellow revolutionaries.
Through the use of language and imagery, Téllez portrays the ways in which knowledge is tied to power and control. Furthermore, he highlights the consequences of knowledge and power, demonstrating the impact that these forces can have on an individual’s sense of morality and relationships with others. The story ultimately serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of power and the importance of considering the consequences of one’s actions.
Moral Dilemmas
A moral dilemma is a choice in which both options involve moral wrongs. The theme of moral dilemmas is seen mostly through the character of the barber. The story presents the barber with a difficult decision: whether to shave Torres, a military officer who has ordered the executions of many of the barber’s fellow revolutionaries, or to kill him with his razor, a tool of his profession and one that has never drawn a drop of blood from a customer. Through the use of language and imagery, Téllez portrays the complexity of the barber’s moral dilemma.
The barber’s dilemma arises from his conflicting loyalties. On one hand, he feels a sense of duty to his fellow revolutionaries, who have been executed by Torres, and will continue to be publicly executed for rebelling against the regime. On the other hand, he is a professional barber, and his job is to shave his clients with integrity. This conflict is illustrated when the barber thinks to himself, “I was secretly a revolutionary, but at the same time I was a conscientious barber, proud of the way I did my job” (Paragraph 24). This statement reveals the internal struggle the barber is facing as he grapples with his identity as both a revolutionary standing up to the injustices of a violent regime and a simple barber trusted to do no harm.
Ultimately, the barber decides not to kill Torres, choosing to face the potential consequences of his actions from his comrades. This decision is not an easy one, as the barber recognizes the potential consequences of his inaction. The barber’s decision highlights the complexity of moral decision-making and the importance of considering the consequences of one’s actions.
In conclusion, “Lather and Nothing Else” presents a moral dilemma for its protagonist, the barber. Téllez uses the barber’s inner monologue and dialogue to highlight the complexity of moral decision-making and the weight of the consequences that come with such decisions. The story ultimately serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of considering the moral implications of one’s actions and the impact they may have on oneself and others.
