Lather And Nothing Else Analysis

Dwight Lyman Moody has once said "Character is what you are in the dark," which is proposing that people hide who they truly are in lightness because they're afraid to let society know the real them. Society has become cruel and they force people to do things they don't want to, but at the same time, society can bring out the better side of you.

In the short story "Lather and Nothing Else," by Hernando Tellez, the author explains how society tells a man, Captain Torres, about a barber who is secretly a revolutionary. Myself can relate the quote back to this short story because the barber is hiding pieces of his true self. "I would have to shave his beard just like any other, carefully, neatly, just as though he were a good customer, taking

heed that not a single pore should emit a drop of blood...Yes. I was secretly a revolutionary, but at the same time I was a conscientious barber, proud of the way I did my job" (Tellez). He becomes honest about how he was once a revolutionary, but he is no longer a rebel, he has taken on a passion to become a good barber to his customers whether they are good or bad people.

Torres happens to be someone who comes off as top notch, meaning he is head leader and in charge of everyone.

So when he came into town, people who lived near by told Captain Torres that there was a revolutionary working the barbershop and that he would kill Torres if he wet inside to get a shave. Of course he had the ambition to walk in, so once Torres appeared inside the shop, the barber automatically knew who he was and thoughts like "Murderer or hero? My fate hangs on the edge of this razor blade. I can turn my wrist slightly, put a bit more pressure on the blade, let it sink in" (Tellez) started to pop into his head. But the barber remained calm, and said he was only a barber and that's all he will ever be. In light of that, the quote "character is what you are in the dark," follows through with his two sides because in reality, he's just a plain barber, but deep inside, he's rebel and just not letting it show through.

Society has put people in a corner and has made them feel vulnerable by making them face what they don't want to do. "But I don’t want to be a murderer. No, sir. You came in to be shaved. And I do my work honorably. I don’t want to stain my hands with blood. Just with lather, and nothing else. You are an executioner; I am only a barber," (Tellez). With this in mind, it proves that there's two sides to everyone, but when you are forced to face your fears, your true side comes out.

In conclusion, the short story "Lather and Nothing Else, by Hernando Tellez,

revolves around society and what it can bring out in you. "Character is what you are in the dark," will always mean that there is a dark side to you, but in lightness it is who you truly are.