"On Laughter in the "Lazarillo de Tormes

haps a study of laughter as it appears in the Lazarillo will disclose a subjective attitude on the part of the author towards his work. Striking it is that in this book which reputedly evokes much merriment from the reader, the words for laughter, whether in adjectival, substantival or verbal form appear only eighteen times. Apparently the book is not intended as a superficial rib-tickler. This is to say that that which is risible in the Lazarillo is treated in a very subtle manner, that the author's main purpose is apparently a deeper one as he suggests in the prologue: ... pues podria ser que alguno, que las [cosas] lea, halle algo que le agrade y los que no ahondaren tanto los deleyte (70-71).' The first time we encounter laughter, Lizaro is a young boy

Art · Laughter · Literature · Early Modern Spanish Literature · Philosophy