Lather That's All By Hernando Téllez: A Character Analysis

“Murderer or hero? My destiny depends on the edge of this blade.” Just Lather, That’s All, by Hernando Téllez is a short story that tells the story of a barber and loyal member of the rebellion as he is put in a life-changing situation; one decision could cost him his life or make him a hero in the minds of thousands. Jane Eyre, the main protagonist in Charlotte Brontë’s novel, Jane Eyre, faces a similar battle of moral and mental strength, as she is continuously bullied by her cousins and unfairly treated by her guardians. The differences and similarities between Jane Eyre and the barber are striking, and merit a through investigation. While the barber is a mysterious and dramatic antihero, Jane Eyre is an amazingly intriguing heroine who …show more content…
She is abused, unfairly treated and bullied by both her older cousins and her guardians themselves. Even though she is alone in her struggles, Jane proves herself heroically brave, strong willed and a courageous role model to the reader, which are all qualities that make her an amazing hero. Her main tormentor as a child is her “large and stout” cousin, John Reed, who torments her “not two or three times in the week, nor once or twice in a day, but continually”. When Jane goes to the upstairs window seat to quietly read her book, John interrupts her and throws a book at her causing her to fall and hit her head. Both the physical and psychological abuse aimed at her is perpetual. Not surprisingly, Jane gets angry at the unfair treatment and abuse, as she is always the one to be punished even though she is the victim but there is one thing that truly puts her aside from many people and makes her a true hero; after being beaten down again and again she continues to be brave and stand up for what is morally right. She calls John Reed a “murderer” and a “slave-driver” when he says that she has no right to look at the Reed family’s books, inferring that she is of interior status to himself and in no way a member of the family. Although totally isolated in the world of the Reed family it is as if Jane realizes that no matter what her status is or the consequences of her actions could be that there is no one else to stand up for her so she must do it herself. She is heroic in this decision because, even though her childhood life has little impact on anyone else and she is solely standing up for herself, the reader empathizes for her while she endures the punishment for her acts bravery and courage. It is hoped by the reader that over time she will be able to, like the birds in the books she reads so religiously, soar above all the torment and let her