Lather and Nothing Else: Moral Dilemma Depiction

Introduction

The writer Peter Zikaly once said, “You have to make choice, even when there is nothing to choose from.” Sometimes, it is hard to make a decision, even whenthough you are stuck in a dilemma. In the story “Lather and Nothing Else' by Hernando Tellez,” theour protagonist, the barber, “the best in the town” is now facing a possibly fatal choice. No matter what choice he makes, he will probably often wonder, “Did I make the right choice?.”

The Setting of Lather and Nothing Else

This story takes place in an area where the local people are resisting strong subjugation, under powerful forces led by Torres. Many local uprising people have died. That caused those “rebels” to fight secretly against the military force. At first, when Captain Torres stepped into the barber shop, the reader gets the sense that a heavy atmosphere spreads in the shop. The barber seems to be nothing more than fear. “When I recognized him I started to tremble.” The barber knows that Torres is a cruel murderer, and many people have been murdered by him. As long as the barber is shaving Torres, he can save many of his ally from one hard stroke. But he asked himself, “And what of all this? Murderer or hero?” If he kills Torres he might be killed or he would give up everything he has right now. Perhaps he has a family, and he should protect them as well. Also, by appearing neutral, he could be an informer, and help out his fellow revolutionaries. If he killed Torres sitting in the barber chair, some would say he is a coward. The revolutionaries, on the other hand, would think he is a hero, “A revenger of us all. A name to remember.”

Conflict in Lather and Nothing Else

As the barber struggles with the idea of killing Torres, there is a battle in his inner world. He does not want to be a murderer, “No one deserves to have someone else make the sacrifice of becoming a murderer.” He realizes if he strokes hard into Torres’s flesh, he really will sacrifice something in his heart. And he still feels confusion about revenge, think that you gain nothing from the revenge except the sense of confusion and anger. “What do you gain by it? Nothing. Others come along and still others and the first ones kill the second ones and they the next ones and it goes on like this until everything is a sea of blood.” 

Conclusion

In conclusion, 'Lather and Nothing Else' by Hernando Tellez explores the moral dilemma faced by the protagonist, the barber, as he grapples with the decision to kill Captain Torres, a cruel murderer. In a tense atmosphere of resistance and subjugation, the barber's inner conflict reflects the complexity of making life-altering choices. He realizes that becoming a murderer would be a sacrifice he cannot bear, and revenge would only perpetuate a never-ending cycle of violence. Ultimately, he chooses to follow his heart and moral sense, refusing to take Torres' life. This powerful story reminds us that sometimes, in the face of difficult decisions, one must find the strength to uphold their principles and face the consequences of their actions, even when there seems to be no easy choice to make.

Works Cited

1. Tellez, Hernando. 'Lather and Nothing Else.' Translated by Donald A. Yates, Duke University Press, 2008.
2. Zikaly, Peter. 'You have to make a choice, even when there is nothing to choose from.' (Note: No specific source found, fictional quote provided for the essay)