Periquillo Sarniento «PLUS • HONEST REVIEW»

As the first novel written in Latin America, El Periquillo Sarniento broke new ground. Before it, literary production in the colonies was dominated by religious tracts, chronicles, and poetry in the Baroque style. Fernández de Lizardi adopted a colloquial, accessible prose that mirrored the speech of Mexico City’s streets. He also incorporated local customs, foods, and slang, creating a distinctly Mexican literary voice.

In the annals of Latin American literature, one book holds a unique and groundbreaking place: El Periquillo Sarniento (The Itchy Parrot), written by José Joaquín Fernández de Lizardi and published in 1816. More than just an entertaining picaresque tale, this novel is widely recognized as the first novel written in Latin America. Through the misadventures of its antihero, Periquillo Sarniento, Fernández de Lizardi crafted a sharp social critique, a moral guide, and a vivid portrait of colonial Mexican society on the eve of independence. The novel’s enduring significance lies not only in its historical primacy but also in its incisive commentary on corruption, education, and human folly—themes that remain strikingly relevant today.

The novel’s influence is immense. It paved the way for later Latin American picaresque works, such as La vida inútil de Pito Pérez by José Rubén Romero, and even for the magical realism of the 20th century, which often blends social critique with folk humor. Moreover, the novel anticipated the novela de la Revolución in its attention to the lives of ordinary people rather than heroes and elites. While some critics lament the novel’s rambling structure and heavy-handed moralizing, others celebrate it as a rich, unpolished gem that captures the chaos and energy of a society in transition. periquillo sarniento

What elevates El Periquillo Sarniento from mere adventure story to literary landmark is its fierce social and political critique. Fernández de Lizardi was a fervent advocate of the Enlightenment and liberal ideas. He used his novel as a pulpit to attack the lingering feudal structures of colonial New Spain. The book is punctuated with long digressions—sometimes to the detriment of narrative pacing—in which characters deliver lectures on the need for universal education, fair governance, and the abolition of forced labor.

A notable contradiction lies in the author’s own position. A criollo who supported Mexican independence (the novel was published during the final years of the War of Independence), Fernández de Lizardi was nonetheless wary of radical change. He believed in gradual reform, not revolution. Thus, while the novel criticizes specific abuses, it ultimately endorses a conservative social order: the poor should accept their station and work hard; the rich should be just and charitable. This ambiguity reflects the complex political landscape of early 19th-century Mexico. As the first novel written in Latin America,

The son of a poor but respectable family in Mexico City, Periquillo refuses to follow an honest trade. Instead, he bounces from one master and profession to another: he is a student, a sacristan, a pharmacist’s apprentice, a beggar, a thief, a bullfighter, a doctor’s assistant, and even a leader of a gang of thieves. He travels through the viceroyalty of New Spain, from the capital to the countryside, experiencing all levels of society. Each episode serves as a vehicle for Fernández de Lizardi to expose a specific social vice—the laziness of the privileged, the corruption of public officials, the greed of the clergy, the incompetence of quack doctors, and the brutality of the justice system. Periquillo’s journey is circular: after suffering imprisonment, betrayal, and near-death experiences, he finally returns to Mexico City, marries, and becomes an honest man—but only after learning the hard way.

Fernández de Lizardi called himself the "Mexican Thinker," and his novel is deeply didactic. Each misadventure of Periquillo is followed by an explicit moral lesson, often delivered by a wise older character. The novel’s final message is clear: honesty, hard work, and prudence lead to a good life, while idleness and greed lead to ruin. Yet, the novel is not a simple moral tract. Periquillo remains a complex, even sympathetic character. His flaws are human, and his suffering is often disproportionate to his crimes. The reader laughs at his schemes but also feels pity when he is beaten, jailed, or left for dead. This tension between moral instruction and narrative empathy gives the novel its lasting vitality. He also incorporated local customs, foods, and slang,

The novel’s most scathing critique is reserved for the educational system. Periquillo’s early schooling is a farce: teachers are cruel or incompetent, the curriculum is outdated, and rote memorization replaces genuine learning. Through this, Fernández de Lizardi echoes the ideas of Rousseau and Locke, arguing that education should be practical, moral, and suited to the individual’s role in society. Similarly, he condemns the gachupines (peninsular Spaniards) for their arrogance and exploitation of the criollos (Mexican-born Spaniards), subtly critiquing the colonial caste system. At the same time, he does not idealize the lower classes; Periquillo’s time among thieves and beggars shows that vice knows no social boundaries. This balanced cynicism is a hallmark of the picaresque.

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Periquillo Sarniento «PLUS • HONEST REVIEW»

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