Here's why:
* The Rogue as a Vehicle for Observation: The picaresque novel typically follows the journey of a roguish, lower-class protagonist. This character's experiences allow the author to expose the hypocrisy, corruption, and inequalities of society.
* Episodic Structure: The episodic structure of the picaresque novel, with its series of adventures and encounters, provides ample opportunities for the author to showcase different social groups and institutions, highlighting their flaws and contradictions.
* Realism and Humor: Picaresque novels often employ a realistic style and use humor, sometimes black humor, to critique the follies and injustices of the world.
* Social Mobility and Class: The protagonist's journey through different social strata allows the author to comment on the challenges of social mobility and the differences between various classes.
Examples of picaresque novels that excel at social satire include:
* "Lazarillo de Tormes" (Spain): A classic example, this novel exposes the harsh realities of poverty and the corrupting influence of power in 16th-century Spain.
* "The Adventures of Tom Jones" (England): Henry Fielding uses his protagonist's experiences to satirize the hypocrisy and moral decay of English society in the 18th century.
* "Huckleberry Finn" (America): Mark Twain uses Huckleberry's adventures to critique slavery, racism, and societal hypocrisy in pre-Civil War America.
By focusing on social satire and commentary, picaresque novels offer a powerful critique of the world they depict, often with a blend of humor and realism.