Editing Zanni (section)

==Characteristics==
The earliest literary evidence portrays Zanni as a servant of [[Pantalone]]. Of all of the ''commedia'' archetypes, Zanni's survival instinct is the strongest. Zanni is also always hungry, which leads to a vision of Utopia where "everything is comestible, reminiscent of the followers of [[gluttony]] in carnival processions".<ref group=Note>A famous example is the Truffaldino in ''[[A Servant of Two Masters]]'' by Goldoni.</ref> A Zanni also has an animistic view of the world in that he senses a spirit in everything, so it could be eaten. Zanni is ignorant, loutish, and has no self-awareness. The simple act of thinking does not seem to be natural to Zanni. He is a very faithful individual who prefers to live in the present day. Zanni never looks for a place to sleep; it just seems to happen to him often in situations where it shouldn't, like a [[Alcoholism|drunkard]]. Lastly, all of his reactions are completely emotional.<ref name="ReferenceC">Rudlin, John. ''Commedia dell'arte: An Actors Handbook''. London: Routledge, 1994. 71. Print.</ref>

Zanni is born into an immigrant background and is known for performing both "duty and necessity" and also plays an active role in the "game" of breaking up and unifying relationships. Zanni is also known for his ability to scheme and manipulate. The role of Zanni is known as being a "stupid genius"; this contradiction prevents Zanni from approaching daily life in a rational manner. Zanni's stupidity prevents him from performing simple tasks, while his genius gives him the ability to make the impossible possible.<ref name=":1"/>