Picaresque Novel

Picaresque Novel :-

Tem picaresquer Novel is coined from the Spanish term 'pical o', meaning 'rogue', a novel that realistically recounts the adventures of as carefree rascal. The picaresque novel is episodic, its unity resulting from the near constant presence of the central character, who comes from a low social class and generally lives by his or her wits rather than by honest or hard work, Picaros, though adopt at trickery, generally do not engage, evolve or developed. Following are the chief features of a Picaresque novel:

i.It has a picaro or a semi-criminal as its central figure.

ii. The plot consists of a series of thrilling events only loosely connected together by the fact that the same central character figures in them all.

iii. The plot is episodic, and the insider thrilling or sensational.

iv. There is immense variety-social setting of incident and of character.

v. A picture of contemporary society is thus presented realistically and completely.

vi. In general, Picaresque novels are told from the first person point of view and have satirical intent.

1. Daniel Dafoe (1666-1731) was, as has aiready been pointed out, the originator of the novel, though none of his works can be placed under the category of novel in the modern sense of the term. In Robinson Crusoe Defon, has described the experiences of Alexander Selkirk, who spent five years in solitude in the island of Juan Fernandez. Though the whole story is fictitios, it has been described most realistically with the minute accuracy of an eyewitness His other novels Captain Singleton, Moll Flanders, Roxana are just like picaresque stones to which were added unnatural moralizing and repentance.

2. Henry Fielding (1707-1754) was the greatest of the eighteenth century novelists. His first novel Joseph Andrews was written in order to satinse and parody the false sentimentality and conventional virtues of Richardson's heroine, Pamela. Fielding's next novel, Jonathan Wild is a typical picaresque novel, narrating the story of a rogue. His greatest novel. The History of Tom Jones. A Foundling, has epic as well as dramatic qualities. It consists of a large numbers of involved adventures, which are very skilfully brought towards their climas by the hand of a dramatist. Fielding's last novel is Amelia which is a homely and simple narrative. The novel in his hand became free from its slaver to fact, conscious of its power and possibilities, and firmly established as an independent literary form.

3. Tobias Smollett (1721-1771) followed the example of Fielding in writing picaresque novels, which are full of intrigue and adventure. But he lacks the genuis of Fielding, for his novels are just a jumble of adventures and incidents without any artistic unity. Smollett's best known novels are Roderick Random. Peregrine Pickle and Humphrey Clinker. in all these novels Smollett excites continuous laughter by farcical situations and exaggeration in portraying human eccentricities.

The picaresque novel, with its unconventional heroes and episodic structure, has proven to be a resilient and versatile literary form. From its humble beginnings in Spain, it has spread across continents and centuries, Jeaving an enduring legacy in the world of literature. The genre's ability to blend entertainment with social critique ensures its continued relevance and appeal to readers seeking narratives that challenge traditional storytelling conventions.