It is "usually a first person narrative, relating the adventures of a rogue or low born adventurer(Spanish Picaro) as he drifts from place to place and from one social milieu to another in his effort to survive."(2). In other words, the protagonist picaro is someone like a homeless and poor adventure seeker. "He exits in the margins of society and tries in socioeconomic terms to enter the mainstream of his/her society(3). The picaro of Lazarillo de Tormes, who is named Lazaro, fits the definition such that he was born in a poor family and lost his father when he was a boy. He does not have any education opportunity such that he learns mere by experience by way of his masters. He lives in a mode of survival and his primary aim is to satisfy himself. That is also why he leaves the job, in which he carried water with a donkey, as soon as he earns enough money and buys new clothes. Add!.
itionally, it is unknown how old he is when he tells the story or experinced the events in it.
Another crucial fact to mention about picaresque novel is its correspondence with the Spanish Inquisition in history. In this part, the aim is not to explain this period, but to mention the widespread mentality of public which will be related with the style of the novel later. In that period, "the inquisitors began searching for what and whom they were going to punish rather than waiting for complaints to be made to them." who are "Priests and friars promiscuous and greedy not only for money but for meals, and other profits."(3). All these may end up with a society where members are feared by inquisitors, and see themselves responsible to make a confession in a necessary situation.
Keeping in mind the characteristics of Lazaro, it can be derived that he might use a plain language which is not wordy or too complicated. The narration does not involve artistic descriptions. In other words, "the descriptions are pithy and economical"(Preface) such as when he resembles his thirst to an ant's thirst or his thirsty mouth to a magnet(p30).