In my perception, Dr.

Lazaro is the type of man who is fully committed to his work – a proof of this is his
attendance to Esteban’s hut despite knowing beforehand that the chances of the survival of Esteban’s
child is down to zero based on the symptoms dictated by Esteban on the phone. In connection to this,
Dr. Lazaro also accepted the payment of Esteban despite it being not sufficient, taking in consideration
the inability of Esteban’s family to pay enough as seen on their poor situation. Dr. Lazaro is a man who
carried heavy baggage, especially one that is related to Ben’s brother. The pent-up emotions in his heart
led to his disbelief in God and furthering his bitter perception of life. As a father, I believe that Dr. Lazaro
has his ways on dictating the choices that his sons should make. Although he is a very supportive and
generous father seeing how he sent Ben abroad to study however, he also has a way of pressuring Ben
into choosing courses he thinks is best. I do think that he also somehow had a role to play on Ben’s
brother’s suicide. Despite all of these however, Dr. Lazaro is still a good father as shows character
development as portrayed in the last portion of the story wherein he called his son “Father Lazaro” with
a hint of warm affection as if he was giving his consent to his son to do something that Ben wants. In
summary, Dr. Lazaro, despite his “human tendencies” is a good man and a good father.

I do think that there are multiple conflicts present in the story. The need for Dr. Lazaro to save a dying
child is one. His battle against his lack of faith as he carries the burden of his son’s passing is another.
The third is his tendency to dictate the life choices of his children.

The resolution in the story is when Dr. Lazaro made peace with the fact that he could not save the child
even after trying and also when he acknowledged the profession that Ben would take isn’t one of those
he laid out, but to be a priest. In addition to that, Dr. Lazaro also somehow regained an amount of his
faith as he asked his son how to regain eternal life.

From the beginning of the story, faith was already depicted as an important element as Dr. Lazaro
described his wife with the affiliation of religious statues ad going to church every morning. Faith has
also been discussed church every morning. Faith has also been discussed throughout the story during
the mention of his dead son and when he called his son “Father Lazaro.” Love have played a significant
role in the portrayal of Dr. Lazaro work wherein despite being late, he is passionate enough to the point
wherein he aided a poor family wherein he aided a poor family whose baby was dying. The story also
depicted love in the sense of acceptance as Dr. Lazaro accepted his son’s probable future – away from
the professions he expected him to take. Lastly, time has been significant as Dr. Lazaro thought of how
time goes so fast and how things could alter altogether in the hands of time just as how fast he lost his
other son and how time flies from his cheerful and optimistic collegiate years to his dull and monotone
life after a few years.
Dr. Lazaro mentioned the phrase “The word will teach him his greatest lessons,” Ben, was showing his
kindness, which is for a man like Dr. Lazaro who have been beaten up by the world would see as being
“naïve” which is why when Dr. Lazaro saw his son’s kindness and positive perception of life, he
pessimistically remarked that the world would “teach him his greatest lessons,” which I believe would
translate to Ben being jaded after being beaten up by the world the way that Dr. Lazaro suffered from
different events that have drained the optimism out of him and that he would then perceive the world
in black and white the way that Dr. Lazaro perceives it. This thought is actually something that I can
relate to. Being young and ignorant of how the world could be so wicked and how events unfolds
against your favor sometimes would really teach you to not be too trusting, to not be overly optimistic
and at times, you would just end up being too overly guarding with your time, emotion, kindness and all
that comprises your thoughts and opinions of how the world works because the world would eat up
anyone who is too trusting and overly idealistic. It is not bad to be kind, a little kindness is what changes
and moves the world, however, I also would agree to Dr. Lazaro, the world would provide obstacles that
will toughen us up, and would enable us to grow as a different individual than that of who we are prior
our exposure to the world.