O pícaro como sintoma do imobilismo social: a narrativa espanhola e os contos populares franceses

Abstract

The present study aims to conduct a comparative observation of two distinct forms of expression, the Spanish picaresque novel and the French folk tales, in the same time, the 16th and 17th centuries, identifying the common to both, both in origin and in the final product of their creations, and referring them to the contemporary socio-cultural presuppositions. Without claim a reduction of the peasant tale to picaresque narrative model, or characterized it as such, throughout the study are respected differentiating elements between them, since there arise two peculiar narrative forms, each of them seen as a representation and intermediation of power relations. It highlighted the central character of the picaresque novel in Spain; it is observed his trajectory, his environment, their motivations and his singular ethics, and then meet him again in France, emerging in another culture, although undergoing similar socio-political pressures. The picaro becomes more understandable in their goals and their wits if we look at Spain from the fullness of the House of Austrias period, until its bankruptcy that led to ruin much of the nobility and dramatically blocked the paths of social mobility, consolidating a cruel stratification their society. By examining French history in a time fairly close to that, we found the same condition of glory and decline of State power and their nobles, which generated equal blocking in ascension possibilities, imposing such as in that Spain, a profound differentiation between the various social classes. The chosen narratives were Lázaro de Tormes, El Buscón, Le garçon qui vole les trésors de l'Ogre and Le Chat botté, where the picaresque attitude is shown in its fullness.