Zorro (The Legend of Zorro)

The story takes place at the dawn of the 18th century, in the once-Spanish-controlled southwest of America. The protagonist, Don Diego de la Vega, an eighteen-year-old scion of a local landowner, arrives from Spain after completing his studies and discovers that his homeland has fallen under the dictatorship of Commander Raymond and Lieutenant Gabriel. Embittered by this oppression, Diego decides to fight the tyrants. He dons a mask and, under the new name of Zorro, riding his trusty steed, Viento, begins to help the weak and oppressed. Meanwhile, the protagonist finds a blue-blooded love, Lolita. As the story unfolds, Zorro becomes increasingly popular among the people and earns the title of folk hero. Don Diego de la Vega (Zorro) is the protagonist of the story. He is the son of a wealthy plantation owner from Southern California. His mother is long dead. After several years of traveling around Spain, Diego receives a letter from his father and decides to return to his homeland. He discovers that the country has plunged into chaos: Spanish troops have abandoned the law and begun terrorizing the local population (as Diego's father had indicated in the letter). The standard of living for ordinary people has begun to deteriorate. Unable to accept this, Diego, a skilled swordsman, dons a costume and mask and, hiding his identity under the new name of Zorro, begins to fight against injustice, defending the unfortunate citizens. Like his father, Diego is calm and reasonable, unlike his stubborn and hot-tempered friends. It should be noted that, as an aristocrat, Diego is not only well-off but also well-educated. He conceals his best qualities in order to protect his secret: he mostly acts stupid and awkward, pretending to be a lazy coward. He is aided in his fight by a boy named Bernard, who wears the same costume as Zorro. Diego himself is in love with his childhood friend Lolita. Zorro's favorite weapon is a rapier. He also uses a whip.