The valor and nerve contrasted by the apprehensiveness and fearfulness demonstrated by Captain Torres and the barber conveys the contrasting principles within the story and specifically between the characters. The story depicts Torres as a ruthless individual who demonstrates courage and bravado in order to nullify the rebelling opposition. On the other hand, the story depicts the barber as a timid and cowardly individual who cannot endure the thought of shedding blood. Despite the fact that Torres is aware that the barber is a rebel and can potentially kill him, he walks into the barber shop exclaiming that “…he wants a shave […] and [takes] a seat” (Téllez 343), placing himself in a vulnerable position in hopes of exposing the barber. He
