To analyze the use of language and narrative authority in Lazarillo de Tormes, firstly, it is necessary to clarify what is understood from the term narrative authority, and to mark the possible effects of anonymity and translation on the novel. Secondly, the general characteristics of picaresque novel will be noted, since the novel is narrated by its anti-heroic protagonist "picaro". The picaro's character determines his use of language, and probably the style of the novel. At the end, the narrative authority with respect to its audience will be examined. When the novel is considered as a whole, it can be seen that the actual writer sometimes become more dominant than Lazaro in some parts of the story. Therefore, such dominance occasionally results in incoherence and implausibleness. .
In this essay, the term narrative authority will be primarily considered as the relationship among the narrator and the story. The scope of examination will be composed of two main questions: to what extend the story is compatible with the narrator Lazaro, and "what are some of the cultural and political stakes of claims to textual authority"(1). Next, it is essential to note that the original story was written in Spanish and translated to English. Mostly, the idioms and secondary meanings of sentences can lose their original significance. Hence, during this translation, it is inevitable that the style and the language may altered to some extend, such as the "wearing shoes" concept in chapter 4 or "you have got more sauce than the meat" example in chapter3(p57). Besides, the anonymity may come up with more freedom in using the language, freedom to comment, and to make statements. In other words, the narrative authority can be more criticizing, as it is, while blaming his priest master as being hypocritical and cheater.
The picaresque novel which is regarded as an early form of novel was born in 16th century Spain.