Lather And Nothing Else Character Analysis

Between the two killers Captain Torres and the Sniper, in “Lather and Nothing Else” and “The Sniper”, Captain Torres is the eviler character. While humans are products of environment, and aren’t inherently evil creatures, Captain Torres commits his murders with pride, cold calculation, and torture. The Sniper is in Ireland during a time where “Republicans and Free staters are waging war” (paragraph 1). He is a student: a man who decided to fight for what he believe was best for his country. Captain Torres is an affiliate of the government of Columbia. He would have decided to take this career path, but it’s clear “he has a good time” (paragraph 26) doing his work. This story takes place at a time when Columbia’s people are oppressed and impoverished. Perhaps he too believes he is doing the right thing for his country, in his own twisted mindset. However, every execution and punishment to the revolutionaries are callous and premeditated. The sniper is a soldier, fulfilling duties for his cause, the captain is an executioner, making examples of those who disagree with the government. There is also a difference in the way each man murders. Whenever the sniper killed “he took steady aim. His hands trembled with eagerness. Pressing …show more content…
He feels awful. He doesn’t want to fight anymore, and curses himself and everything he has been fighting for. To make the situation worse, he finds out the man who he has shot is his own brother. Torres knows murder is wrong, and it isn’t easy for most people, yet he talks about his job nonchalantly, which he portrays perfectly when he says to the barber, “But we did very well… We caught the leaders. Some of them we brought back dead; others alive. But they’ll all be dead soon.” He feels accomplishment with each life he destroys, and despite knowing the devastation he causes, he shows no