I, Juan De Pareja Chapters 1-5

Chapters 1-5

Chapter 1 || In which I learn my letters Juan de Pareja is a slave boy. He was born in Seville, Spain. His mother was a black woman and his father was a white Spaniard. His mother died when he was 5 and after that he was taken in by his future mistress. She often treated him like a pet. Her husband was a sickly man who she loved very dearly. She referred to Juan as "Juanico" . She was not very good at writing so she taught him the alphabet and had him write the letters she sent to her family. Soon after he began writing her letters , his Master and her husband died. She had him write to her nephew in Madrid to inform him of the news. Her nephew is a painter. He also was the apprentice of a great painter nearby in Seville. One morning he went out to get bread from the bakers and he hoped to get a glimpse of the painter, known as Pacheco, as he went along. As he passes the painters house, he sees that his daughter has died of the plague. He runs to the bakeshop and sees that the bakers doors are painted with a big white cross. ( This means that someone inside is dying of the plague). The very next day he is painting a cross on his house, his Mistress is dying of the plague. She dies and he becomes ill, barely surviving until a friar, Brother Isidro, comes and nurses him back to health, he also informs him that he was inherited and is to become the slave of his Mistress's nephew, Don Diego. He will travel to Madrid soon.

Chapter 2 ||In which I prepare for a journey Juan lives in the convent with Brother Isidro for a while before journeying to Madrid. He learns to beg and helps others while he is there. He is told that everyone is a slave and that he must look at himself as a human being with a soul from now on. He then is taken to a house where he will wait until he goes to Madrid.

Chapter 3 || In which I meet Don Carmello Juan meets a Romany gypsy and soon learns that he is to travel to Madrid with him. Don Carmello is a cruel man who rarely feeds Juan and treats him terribly. He then tells Juan that if he wants to eat he will need to steal, this is something that horrifies Juan, since he believes in being an honest man. When he first steals he does not like it and the turns to the ways of the friars, begging. He gets along very well that way until Don Carmello discovers what he was doing. He attempts to steal is wares until Juan is rescued by the town baker. He agrees to work for him in exchange for food pay and a good coat. He finishes his work and goes on his way with his food that he saved. He then stays with a man for protection, posing as his slave until he is told to leave. Juan takes shelter in a stable and gets beaten by Don Carmello who has found him. Later when he wakes he is in the home of Don Diego, his new master.

Chapter 4 || In which I learn my duties Juan becomes the slave of a great painter and assists him in painting. he learns may great things and wishes to paint, this is not possible because slaves are not allowed to practice the arts. He is treated well and enjoys his new life. He is taught that are is true as is life. The he learns that the King want Diego to do his portrait and they move their studio to the Palace.

Chapter 5 || In which Reubens visits our court The palace is very nice and Juan enjoys going there. There are many interestin thigns that he notices about the King, such as his desire to befriend Diego. Later, a famous painter, referred to as the best in Europe comes to visit. It is made clear by the King that Diego is better than him though. His Master's wife becomes ill before they are to attend a banquet.