Picaresque Novel
Picaresque Novel
Picaresque Novel
1. The picaresque novel (Spanish: picaresca, from pícaro, for "rogue" or "rascal") is a genre
of prose fiction that depicts the adventures of a roguish, but "appealing hero", of low social
class, who lives by his wits in a corrupt society. Picaresque novels typically adopt
a realistic style, with elements of comedy and satire. This style of novel originated in Spain in
1554 and flourished throughout Europe for more than 200 years, though the term "picaresque
novel" was only coined in 1810. It continues to influence modern literature. The term is also
sometimes used to describe works, like Cervantes' Don Quixote and Charles
Dickens' Pickwick Papers, which only contain some of the genre's elements.
The picaresque novel is a popular genre of novel that originated in Spain and flourished in
Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries and has continued to influence modern literature.
Therefore, picaresque novel is the life story of rogue or picaro, a clever and amusing
adventurer of low social status. The story is usually narrated in the first person
as autobiography. Episodic in nature, the plot consists of a series of thrilling incidents. The
hero wanders from place to place, from job to job. The adventures help the picaro to meet
with the people of all different social strata- businessmen, politicians, clergymen, doctors,
lawyers, drunkards, poor, buffoons etc. He is thus charged with opportunities of satirizing the
hypocrisy and corruption of entire society.
Seven qualities distinguish the picaresque novel or narrative form, all or some of which an
author may employ for effect.
In the English-speaking world, the term "picaresque" is often used loosely to refer to novels
that contain some elements of this genre; e.g. an episodic recounting of adventures on the
road.
Founded upon the Spanish word ‘picaroon’ meaning a rogue the picaresque novel usually
consists of a series of loosely connected episodes in the manner of journeys, which are the
picaroon’s many adventures. In a picaresque novel, therefore, the author generally uses a first-
person narrative, relating the adventures of a rogue or low- born adventures the drifts from
place to place and from one social milieu to another in his effort to service. In its episodic
structure the picaresque novel resembles the long, rambling romances of medieval chivalry.
The best known Spanish picaresque novel is Don Quixote by Cervantes. Daniel Defoe’s Moll
Flanders, Henry Fielding’s Tom Jones, Thackeray’s Barry Lyndon are some important
picaresque novels.
The object of the picaresque novel is to take a central figure through a succession of scenes,
introduce a great number of characters, and thus build up a picture of society. This is exactly
the pattern which the story of Tom Jones follows. The hero is taken through a succession of
scenes and situations, and has a number of adventures on the roads and inside inns. He meets
persons of different types and tempers.
Tom had adventures in the countryside, on the road to London, and in London itself. He
meets thieves and rogues rescues damsels in distress, falls in love, fight duels, gets arrested
and imprisoned, gets cheated by seemingly innocent people and helped by apparent
scoundrels. He encounters members of the lowest rungs of society as well as highest echelons.
The picaresque mode, furthermore, offers a writer the chance to present the life and culture of
his age.
The story of Tom Jones follows the pattern of the “Picaresque” novel. Tom Jones, the hero
of the novel, is a foundling, mysteriously discovered one night in the bed of the wealthy,
virtuous and benevolent Mr. Allworthy. The kind Squire brings him up and educates him. But
Tom incurs the wrath of his benefactor with the result that he is turned out of his house. Now
begin the travels of Tom Jones.
Accompanied by a schoolmaster, Partridge, the sets out for London. It is easy to see in
Partridge a parallel to Sancho Panza, the travelling companion to Don Quixote, in Cervantes’s
picaresque novel of the same title. Fielding also sends his heroine, with a suitable lady
companion, on adventures along the highway. On the way, Tom meets with a number of
adventures, some of which are amorous in nature. He goes from place to place stopping at
numerous inns on the way. He joins the army as a volunteer but, being seriously wounded in a
fray, cannot accompany the soldiers with whom he wants to go. He meets several strange
persons, one of whom is the Man of the Hill, who willfully leads a lonely life. He rescues the
old man from being attack by two ruffians. The next morning, he saves Mrs. Waters from
being killed by Ensign Northerton. After the boisterous scenes at Upton Inn, Tom and
Partridge are again on the road. They now meet beggar, highwaymen, and finally fall among
gypsies in whose camp they spend a night. Finally, they reach London. But Tom’s adventures
do not come to an end there. He meets Lady Bellaston, a lustful woman who for some time
supports him in London. Misfortune, however, persistently dogs his heels, and he is
imprisoned in London. In this way the story of Tom Jones is a long string of adventures in
different scenes and situations.
A novel in which the hero is sent on travels for the sake of adventures, and in which he
passes through different scenes and meets different sorts of persons is called a “picaresque”
novel. Therefore, we may say that Tom Jones has several traits of the picaresque novel.
The “picaresque” novel offers criticism of the age whose picture it presents. Cervantes in his
great picaresque novel, Don Quixote, gives a smashing blow to the tradition of chivalry. A
similar satirical picture of a corrupt society is presented in Tom Jones. Tom Jones ridicules
folly, vice and weakness of mankind in general.
Thus, Tom Jones has several traits of the picaresque novel. Yet in one essential point it
differs greatly from the picaresque tradition. Unlike the picaresque novel, Tom Jones has a
coherent and well – knit and well – planned plot. It further shows a harmony between
characters and incidents.