The book begins with a short prologue addressed to “Your Excellency.” The narrator does not introduce himself in the prologue or identify the person to which it is addressed. While noting that some may find the text’s contents disagreeable, the narrator says that he believes there is value in bringing even unappealing truths to light.
Explanation:
Analysis
The prologue establishes that the narrator’s primary aim in telling his story is to expose the truth, however ugly. However, as the story unfolds, what seems like a simple promise to tell the truth will become more and more complicated. By noting that some readers may find the text disagreeable, the narrator is foreshadowing the book’s heretical content, such as negative depictions of clergymen, for which it was banned after its initial publication in Spain.
