The Picaresque Novel: Lazarillo de Tormes Analysis
The Picaresque Novel
Characteristics
The picaresque novel is a literary genre with the following characteristics:
- Protagonist as Villain: The protagonist is a rogue or anti-hero from the underworld, serving as a counterbalance to the chivalric ideal.
- Deceit and Cunning: The protagonist’s conduct is marked by deceit, cunning, trickery, and clever traps.
- Outside Honor Codes: The protagonist lives outside the honor codes of the upper classes.
- Freedom as a Great Good: The protagonist’s freedom is highly valued, though often conditional due to their social standing.
- Autobiographical: The protagonist narrates their own adventures, starting with their genealogy, which often contrasts with the lineage of a knight.
- Dual Temporality: The picaro exists as both author and actor, narrating past events from a present perspective.
- Open Structure: The novel’s structure allows for the addition of further adventures, as they are often loosely connected.
- Moralizing Character: Each picaresque novel serves as an example of deviant behavior that is ultimately punished.
- Satirical: Satire is a constant element, as the protagonist moves through different social layers, serving as a servant and observing the intimate events of their employers with a critical eye.
Lazarillo de Tormes
Overview
Lazarillo de Tormes, also known as “The Life of Lazarillo de Tormes and of His Fortunes and Adversities,” appeared in Burgos in 1554. It is considered a groundbreaking work of the Spanish Golden Age due to its originality and realism. It portrays the harsh realities of 16th-century Spain, contrasting with the idealized or religious literature of the time.
Lazarillo’s experiences expose the hypocrisy of the aristocracy and the struggles of the impoverished underclass. The work’s realism challenged the narrative of Spanish power and conquest promoted by the monarchy. Despite being banned by the Inquisition, Lazarillo de Tormes achieved widespread success and established the picaresque novel as a new genre.
Composition and Structure
While seemingly disorganized, Lazarillo de Tormes possesses a well-defined structure. The preface highlights the work’s autobiographical nature, epistolary form, and potential benefits for the reader.
Themes
Picaresque Themes
- Meanness and Avarice: Exemplified by the characters of the blind man and Lázaro.
- Appearances: The squire embodies the theme of false appearances, representing individuals who project a deceptive image.
- False Religion and Clergy Corruption: This theme exposes the hypocrisy and corruption within the clerical class, as seen in the characters of the priest and the pardoner.
Other Themes
- Vagrancy: Lázaro and the blind man demonstrate how begging and wandering become a means of survival.
- Orphanhood: Lázaro’s experience as an orphan highlights the vulnerability and hardships faced by children without parents.
- Hunger: Hunger is a central theme, driving Lázaro’s actions and shaping the novel’s plot. It represents the harsh realities of poverty and the struggle for survival.
Conclusion
Lazarillo de Tormes breaks with the established literary conventions of its time. Its realism and social commentary paved the way for future picaresque novels and cemented its place as a significant work in Spanish literature.