The Deterioration of Romero in El Tonto Del Barrio Essay -- Tonto Del

The Deterioration of Romero in El Tonto Del Barrio After reading Jose Armass story, El Tonto Del Barrio, I was greatly touched by this simplex yet effective story of how the village idiot is used to teach a lesson to the audience. However, after researching the topic, I found that there had been no literary discussion concerning Armas or El Tonto del Barrio. I was shocked to find this out, and I believe this is an arouse and important story which should be looked into. El Tonto del Barrio is not just a story about a college-bound young bit named Seferino who tries to help the community idiot Romero, but it is also a story about a man who slowly deteriorates when his pride is taken away and his dignity not acknowledged. First, to understand how Romero deteriorates, we must look at how life for Romero was before Seferino tried to pay him pay for sweeping. Romero seemed happy, and he was always whistling and singing. In the introductory line of the story Armas even states, Romer o Estrado was called El Cotoro (The Parrot) because he was always whistling and singing (1137). Armas at first makes no obvious remarks that Romero was a moron who should be avoided in fact, the story discusses only the respect that people of the town had for Romero. Romero is even called a respected citizen (1138). It is interesting to note that Armas mentions that Not even the kids made fun of him. It just was not permitted (1138). This point lets the audience know that Romero was respected enough that even parents taught their children to respect him condescension his faults. It is apparent that the town knew Romero was a little touchy (1138), but the citizens choose to overlook his faults. The citizens of the town and Romero... ...nd Kathleen Wilson. Cumulative Index. shekels Gale Research, Inc., 1998. Contemporary Literary Criticism. Index. Michigan Gale Research, Inc., 1991. vituperative Survey of Short Fiction. Ed. Frank N. Magil. Cumulative Index. California Salem Press, 1993. Frenandez, Roberto G. Bibliographical Index of Cuban Authors. Miami Edidones Universal, 1983. Hispanic Writers. Bryan Ryan. Vol. 1. new-made York Gale Research, Inc., 1991. Modern Latin America Literature. Ed. David William Foster. Vol. 2. New York Frederick Ungar Publishing Co., 1975. Reference Guide to World Literature . Ed. Lesley Henderson. Vol. 2. New York St. James Press, 1991. Short Story Criticism. Ed. Shelia Fitzgerald. Cumulative Index. Michigan Gale Research, Inc., 1989. , World Literature Criticism. Ed. James P. Draper. Vol. 6. Michigan Gale Research Inc., 1992.