Question

Which conflict is revealed in this excerpt? The customer is arguing with the barber about becoming a murderer against his will. The customer is arguing with the barber about his violent activities in the barbershop. The barber must choose between using a sharp razor or a rubber strop to stop his enemy. The barber must choose between hurting an enemy or being an ethical worker.

Answer 1

Read the excerpt from "Lather and Nothing Else."

And so, which will it be? 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. The skin will yield like silk, like rubber, like the strop. There is nothing more tender than a man's skin, and the blood is always there, ready to burst forth. A razor like this cannot fail. It is the best one I have.

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

Which conflict is revealed in this excerpt?

Answer:

The barber must choose between hurting an enemy or being an ethical worker.

Explanation:

According to this excerpt from Lather and Nothing Else, a barber recognizes an enemy that came in to have a hair cut and is at crossroads if he should intentionally murder the enemy with his blade or if he should stick to the ethics of his profession and give the man the hair cut he came in for.

The conflict in this excerpt is the barber must choose between hurting an enemy or being an ethical worker.