Date of Award

6-1926

Degree Type

Bachelors Essay

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Department

Communication

First Advisor

John Danihy

Abstract

The progenitor of all the true picaroe as antiheroes of the picaresque novels was born in Spain. Originally the term "picaro" was applied to a kitchen-boy, but in the sixteenth century it was ascribed to those rogues or vagabond wanderers who, by birth, choice or misfortune, were at the foot of the social ladder and who, without any particular trade or profession, managed to obtain a living by means of their wits at the expense of other people. "The picaro is neither a hero nor a villain, but an antihero He is distinguished from the typical villain in that a villain has an evil intention to injure others,while a "picaro regards rascality with humour or explains it as a (2) result of social environment." v 1 He refuses to find employment and will not work, merely because he does not wish to and therefore exerts himself as little as possible. His ideal in life is a "full stomach." He dwells mainly in the large cities where there are a sufficient number of rich persons upon whom he can play for his livelihood. The typical crime of this class, which constituted almost three percent of the population of Spain in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, is theft such as pick-pocketing, card-cheating, smuggling, playing quack, highway robbery, scheming for titles and fortunes by a profitable marriage, and the like. In order to remain a picaro these crimes can be carried out only so far as the use of personal violence does (1) and (2) Chandler’s Literature of Roguery - 1907, p.3 not enter in. When this occurs the rogue ceases to be one and becomes a villain.

Comments

A Thesis Submitted to Fulfill the Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts, College of Journalism, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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