"Lather and Nothing Else" seems to fit Hernando Tellez's story well. It's self-
explanatory to the plot of the story and essentially gives away the decision of our
disgruntle protagonist. But what if someone looks at the story in a different perspective?
Perhaps if the point of view was changed? Try to read the story from the sight of an
innocent bystander or the view of the captain in the barber's chair. The elementary
incantation of irony has become overly abundant in this story, while toiling hand-in-hand
with the badgerment of suspense and irony, which develops the conflict.
At the very beginning, the manifestation of irony is grasped when we are
presented with the situation of our ravaged hairdresser. The very fact that our seemingly
barbaric barber wants to kill the man because he himself has massacred many presents us
with a fascinating plight. "But we did very well, you know. We caught some leaders.
Some of them we brought back dead; others are still alive. But they'll be dead soon," (p.
222). This quote contradicts other quotes, such as, "The murderer of Captain Torres. He
slit his throat while he was shaving him..." (p. 225). Is this not ironic? He has killed so
many people, therefore he deserves to die? Ludicrous.
Suspense presents exceedingly potent and a vast element in this anecdote. To kill,
or not to kill? In this story, THAT is definitely the question. "And so, which will it be?
Murderer or hero? My fate hangs of the edge of a razor blade...? (p. 225), pondered the
barber, leaving the reader curiously anticipating what his choice will be. It keeps the
eager reader reading the elusive falsehood and allows the reader to interpret the choices
and introspective of the protagonist. "I'm sure that with a good, strong blow a deep cut,
...