Summary

The Gold of Tomas Vargas tells the tale of a greedy, pride filled man that lets his family live in poverty while he hoards his own secret riches. The third person narrative used by the author reveals an unsympathetic depiction of the story's villainous protagonist. Tomas Vargas is a lazy man and a self-declared adulterer. He brags about his conquests, hoping that his declarations will give others the impression that he is macho. He claims to have over three hundred illegitimate children. In spite of his saved fortune, he borrows money with no intention of paying it back. He is a drunk that beats his wife and children. He is a selfish man who respects no one except Riad Halabi, the town's storekeeper. When neighbors expect that Tomas is out of control, they turn to Riad, he is the only man...