La comida como crítica social en la picaresca española [= Food as a Social Critique in the Spanish Picaresque Tradition]

This thesis examines the role of food as a social critique in the picaresque genre of Spanish literature. The picaresque novel of 16th and 17th century Spain revolves around the pseudo-autobiographical narrative of a rogue hero who survives life by any means possible, including thievery and deception. The genre demonstrates that only the upper classes of society were enjoying the fruits of Golden Age Spain. In particular, Lazarillo de Tormes and El buscón are the novels used in this analysis to reveal that food, especially the lack thereof, is used satirically in picaresque novels to draw attention to the starvation and suffering of Spanish commoners.