“Most of the evil in this world is done by people with good intentions.”
This quote be T.S Eliot, explores the idea that those that seem to be doing evil, may actually be working for a greater good. In the story “Just Lather, That’s All” by Hernando Tellez, it portrays the antagonist, Captain Torres, as an evil character with barbaric tendencies. His duty as an executioner causes people to see him as “evil”. Whilst the Captain is cruel and merciless, the protagonist, the Barber, is honourable, serving to the needs of people. There is an obvious tension between the Barber and Captain, due to their underlying relationship. Their conflicting characters make it difficult to see any similarities between the two as well. Yet, if one looks closer …show more content…
In the story “Just Lather, That’s All” by Hernando Tellez, it illustrates that people are not quite as different as they seem to be. He conveys this message through the use of imagery, symbolism, foreshadowing and hyperboles to show the similarity of morals in both characters. Both individuals do not want to truly kill, yet they do what they believe is right, following in their beliefs.
Throughout the story, both characters face the decision to take a life, no matter their choice, both characters do not wish to. This is first seen when the Barber decides to not kill the Captain, although it is so easy for him to do so. The Barber dissuades himself from the thought through the use of blood imagery and symbolism. While contemplating the possible consequences of his actions, he imagines how ‘the blood would keep inching along the floor warm, ineradicable, uncontainable, until it [reaches] the street…” (Tellez 3). For the Barber, the blood symbolizes the sin of killing …show more content…
The Barber and Captain live two different lives, yet both do what they believe is right. While the Barber is shaving the Captain, he notices “A thick, blue beard” (Tellez 3). It is uncommon for men to have an unnatural hair colour, such as blue. The author uses this colour to represent different emotions and qualities such as depth, peacekeeping, care, concern, and calm. This comparison portrays the Captain’s true self and motives. The author shows the Captain's humane characteristics, like care, and concern. The most important quality is “peace-keeping”. It shows how the Captain has an ulterior motive, and is striving for “peace”. Unlike the Captain, the Barber, who is a rebel, does not find his calling fighting for peace in the rising conflicts. Instead, he finds happiness as barber, serving others. To support this, the author uses descriptive imagery and hyperboles while the Barber is shaving the Captain. While shaving, the Barber takes caution to make sure not one pore “[opens] up and [issues] forth its pearl of blood. A good barber… prides himself on never allowing this to happen to a client” (Tellez 3). The Captain is someone who executes many rebels, some being the Barber’s friends. Even so, the Barber pushes aside his duty as a rebel to fulfill the obligations of a barber. The author uses hyperbole, such as “not one pore [opens] up,” to show the meticulous care the Barber takes while performing his job.
This quote be T.S Eliot, explores the idea that those that seem to be doing evil, may actually be working for a greater good. In the story “Just Lather, That’s All” by Hernando Tellez, it portrays the antagonist, Captain Torres, as an evil character with barbaric tendencies. His duty as an executioner causes people to see him as “evil”. Whilst the Captain is cruel and merciless, the protagonist, the Barber, is honourable, serving to the needs of people. There is an obvious tension between the Barber and Captain, due to their underlying relationship. Their conflicting characters make it difficult to see any similarities between the two as well. Yet, if one looks closer …show more content…
In the story “Just Lather, That’s All” by Hernando Tellez, it illustrates that people are not quite as different as they seem to be. He conveys this message through the use of imagery, symbolism, foreshadowing and hyperboles to show the similarity of morals in both characters. Both individuals do not want to truly kill, yet they do what they believe is right, following in their beliefs.
Throughout the story, both characters face the decision to take a life, no matter their choice, both characters do not wish to. This is first seen when the Barber decides to not kill the Captain, although it is so easy for him to do so. The Barber dissuades himself from the thought through the use of blood imagery and symbolism. While contemplating the possible consequences of his actions, he imagines how ‘the blood would keep inching along the floor warm, ineradicable, uncontainable, until it [reaches] the street…” (Tellez 3). For the Barber, the blood symbolizes the sin of killing …show more content…
The Barber and Captain live two different lives, yet both do what they believe is right. While the Barber is shaving the Captain, he notices “A thick, blue beard” (Tellez 3). It is uncommon for men to have an unnatural hair colour, such as blue. The author uses this colour to represent different emotions and qualities such as depth, peacekeeping, care, concern, and calm. This comparison portrays the Captain’s true self and motives. The author shows the Captain's humane characteristics, like care, and concern. The most important quality is “peace-keeping”. It shows how the Captain has an ulterior motive, and is striving for “peace”. Unlike the Captain, the Barber, who is a rebel, does not find his calling fighting for peace in the rising conflicts. Instead, he finds happiness as barber, serving others. To support this, the author uses descriptive imagery and hyperboles while the Barber is shaving the Captain. While shaving, the Barber takes caution to make sure not one pore “[opens] up and [issues] forth its pearl of blood. A good barber… prides himself on never allowing this to happen to a client” (Tellez 3). The Captain is someone who executes many rebels, some being the Barber’s friends. Even so, the Barber pushes aside his duty as a rebel to fulfill the obligations of a barber. The author uses hyperbole, such as “not one pore [opens] up,” to show the meticulous care the Barber takes while performing his job.