Editing Pantalone

{{Short description|Principal character in commedia dell'arte}}
{{About|the commedia character|the Toronto municipal politician|Joe Pantalone}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}

[[File:SAND Maurice Masques et bouffons 06.jpg|right|thumb|Pantalone, by [[Maurice Sand]]]]
'''Pantalone''' ({{IPA|it|pantaˈloːne|lang}}), spelled '''Pantaloon''' in English,<ref>Pantaloon is the spelling of the character's name in English [[Harlequinades]]. Shakespeare uses the English spelling in ''[[As You Like It]]'', Act 2, scene 7, as does Randolph T. Weaver's translation of Pierre-Louis Duchartre's ''The Italian Comedy'', (London: George G. Harrap and Co., Ltd. (1929); New York: Dover (1966). {{ISBN|0486216799}})</ref> is one of the most important principal characters found in [[commedia dell'arte]]. With his exceptional greed and status at the top of the social order, Pantalone is "money" in the ''commedia'' world. His full name, including family name, is ''Pantalon de' Bisognosi'', [[Italian language|Italian]] for 'Pantalone of the Needy'.<ref name="HenkeRoles">[[Robert Henke]] ''Performance and literature in the commedia dell'arte'', Improvisation and characters, Individual roles, pp. 19–24</ref>

==Character==
Pantalone originated as part of a master/servant duo and was the original ''Il Magnifico'' stock character.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Routledge Companion to Commedia dell'Arte|last=Chaffee|first=Judith and Olly Crick|page=62}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=The Commedia dell'Arte|last=Oreglia|first=Giacomo|page=78}}</ref> [[Carlo Goldoni]], in his memoirs, named Pantalone as one of the four primary commedia dell'arte characters.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Routledge Companion to Commedia dell'Arte|last=Chaffee|first=Judith and Olly Crick|page=64}}</ref> Among other things, Pantalone is a character of [[Venice|Venetians]]; one theory is that his name derives from [[Saint Pantaleon]] (''San Pantalone''), a popular saint in Venice.<ref name="etymonline">{{cite web|last1=Harper|first1=Douglas|title=Pantaloon|url=http://etymonline.com/index.php?term=pantaloons&allowed_in_frame=0|website=Etymology Online|access-date=24 May 2015}}</ref> Another theory is that his name derives from Venetian merchants who were called Piantaleoni.<ref name=":0" /> While the theories of the St. Pantaleone and the lion of St. Mark{{Clarify|reason=not mentioned before|date=March 2018}} are common, they are both now considered unlikely origins, and the true origin is unknown.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Commedia dell'Arte: An Actor's Handbook|last=Rudlin|first=John|page=91}}</ref> The name Pantaloon generally means 'old fool' or 'dotard'.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Harlequin on the Moon|last=Lawner|first=Lynne|page=46}}</ref> The role of Pantalone is usually spoken entirely in the [[Venetian language]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Italian Comedy|last=Ducharte|first=Pierre Louis|page=185}}</ref> The character of Pantalone is entirely based on currency and ego, for he has the highest regard for his intelligence, "but at every step he becomes the butt for every conceivable kind of trick".<ref name="Nicoll"/> With little else to occupy his thoughts after a life as a tradesman or merchant, Pantalone is the metaphorical representation of money in the ''commedia'' world. While the social standing of merchants may have changed through many centuries, the intent for Pantalone was to ensure that he had the status that allowed him to meddle in the affairs of others.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Routledge Companion to Commedia dell'Arte|last=Chaffee|first=Judith, and Olly Crick|pages=65}}</ref> Pantalone is usually the father to one of the ''[[innamorati]]'' (the lovers), another stock character found in ''commedia''.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|title=Commedia dell'Arte: An Actor's Handbook|last=Rudlin|first=John|page=92}}</ref> He is driven to keep his child and their respective lover apart. Pantalone is presented either as a widower or bachelor, and despite his age, makes numerous passes at the women within the ''commedia'' world, "though he is always rejected".<ref name="Nicoll" /> Pantalone never forgets a deal and his merit is based on actions, not words.<ref name="John Rudlin1">John Rudlin: ''Commedia Dell'arte: An Actor's Handbook'', p. 182</ref> He is also described as being petty, and he never forgets or forgives even the smallest things.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book|title=Commedia dell'Arte: An Actor's Handbook|last=Rudlin|first=John|pages=95}}</ref>

Pantalone is characterized as loving his money and having emotional extremes.<ref name="John Rudlin3" /> With his sinister and often inhumane treatment towards his fellows, Pantalone is perceived to be a pivotal part of ''commedia''. His importance is represented in almost every ''commedia'' production; often placing him at the beginning of the comedy.<ref name="Nicoll">[[Allardyce Nicoll]]: ''The World of Harlequin, a Critical Study of the Commedia Dell'arte'', p. 44</ref> In a ''commedia'' drama, many [[Zanni]] or ''[[lazzi]]'' routines will begin by an action delivered by Pantalone himself. Pantalone is described as being too self-absorbed to notice and interact much with the audience, but he is so oblivious that it serves the same purpose.<ref name=":4" />

Pantalone is also displayed either as a single man or a widower, and not withstanding his age, makes various "attempts" at the ladies inside the ''commedia'' world and is always rejected.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Nicoll|first=Allardyce|title=Allardyce Nicoll: The World of Harlequin, a Critical Study of the Commedia Dell'arte, p. 44}}</ref> Due to his portrayal as an older, single man, it might be claimed that Pantalone is a very one-sided representation of old age. However, he is actually a very rounded and multifaceted depiction of the suggestive natures of old age.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Ellis|first=Anthony|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_a-oDQAAQBAJ&q=modern+depictions+of+pantalone&pg=PT156|title=Old Age, Masculinity, and Early Modern Drama: Comic Elders on the Italian and Shakespearean Stage|date=2016-12-05|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-351-91402-4|language=en}}</ref>

Pantalone's inappropriate enthusiasm for the young ladies inside the ''commedia'' world is abundantly borne out in the previously mentioned ''Capriccii''. "Of all the twenty-seven pieces, ten allude to ladies in their titles alone, either just as a lady (''donna''), or as spouse (''mogier''), house cleaner and courtesan (''Massara'', ''Padrona'') whores (''puttane''), sweetheart (''morosa''), and darling (''innamorata'')."<ref>{{Cite book|title='Della bellezza, et crudelta d'una donna' [of the beauty and cruelty of a woman], 'Sopra la Mogier' [on the wife], 'L'Ultima licenza della buona Massara dalla cattiva Padrona' [the final resignation of the good maid from the bad mistress], 'Le miserie, et le astutie delle puttane' [the troubles, and cunning of prostitutes], 'Ottave sopra le astutie, mancamenti, et le tare delle puttane' [octaves on the cunning, negligence, and defects of prostitutes], 'Comparation sopra un ziogador, e un poeta a la so morosa' [comparison between a gambler and a poet, with his lover], 'Sopra l'ostination della so innamorata' [on the obstinacy of his beloved], 'Sopra le bellezze della sua donna' [on the beautiful qualities of his woman], 'Contrasto de Pantalon, e la so inamorata' [dispute between Pantalon and his beloved], 'Contrasto de tor, e no tor moier, de Pantalon, e Zan Capella' [dispute over whether or not to take a wife, between Pantalone and Zan Capella], in Anon., Capriccii et nuove fantasie alla Venetiana, di Pantalon de' Bisognosi (di novo posti in luce) (Vicenza, then Brescia, 1601).}}</ref>

Sexual symbolism is very prominent as illustrated in ''Della bellezza, and crudeltà d'una donna'', one elderly person communicates along these lines:<ref>{{Cite book|last=Jordan|first=Peter|title=In Search of Pantalone and the Origins of the Commedia dell'Arte}}</ref>

:''vorria d'amante libero''
:''farme servo, e desidero''
:''nel mar de l'appetito''
:''tegnir el timon dritto''
:''al vassello, e d'accorto''
:''vorria ficcarme in porto''

:''[I would like, as a free lover,''
:''to help myself, and I desire''
:''in the sea of appetite''
:''to keep the ship's rudder''
:''straight, and smartly,''
:''would I like to thrust myself into port].''

===Stance===
[[File:Tomás Marín Gómez como Pantaleón.jpg|thumb|Tomás Marín Gómez as Pantaleón]]

The traditional Pantalone stance is that of a hunch-backed old man. He walks with his hips forward, allowing him to make larger strides when he walks.<ref name="John Rudlin3">John Rudlin: ''Commedia Dell'arte: An Actor's Handbook'', p. 94</ref> The hunched shape restricts his legs, which are bent and turned out at the knees. The feet have the heels together with the toes facing apart.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|title=Commedia dell'Arte: An Actor's Handbook|last=Rudlin|first=John|page=93}}</ref> His hands and feet move quickly, although his body is stiff, and his head is constantly moving.<ref name="John Rudlin3" /> When he walks, his feet should be picked up more than would occur naturally.<ref name=":5">{{Cite book|title=Playing Commedia|last=Grantham|first=Barry|page=157}}</ref> Pantalone is slow moving, and he has bouts of agility when there is high emotion, but it is followed by asthmatic breathing and panting.<ref name="John Rudlin3" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title=The Commedia dell'Arte|last=Oreglia|first=Giacomo|pages=80}}</ref> Pantalone is often short and skinny.<ref name=":2" /> A lot of Pantalone's comedy stems from the fact that his excitable actions greatly contradict the senile position that the actor takes.<ref name=":0" /> He often falls backwards, generally to bad news related in some way or another to his financials. When this occurs, he is often amusingly "turtle-like" and is often stuck in that position until assisted.<ref name="John Rudlin3"/> Pantalone can do all of the movements of the other characters, but they are greatly hindered because of his old age.<ref name="John Rudlin3" /> None of Pantalone's physical actions should look easy, for his is truly "the oldest of the old". In the well-known "all the world's a stage" speech in [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare]]'s ''[[As You Like It]]'' (II, vii), Jacques describes the second-last stage of life as "the lean and slippered pantaloon".

===Costume===
Pantalone's costume was designed with the inappropriateness intended to comically entertain.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Routledge Companion to Commedia dell'Arte|last=Chaffee|first=Judith, and Olly Crick|pages=68}}</ref> The costume for Pantalone is characterized by the use of red for almost the entire costume. The characteristics of the costume also include a Greek style hat, a jacket, a pair of long trousers or breeches with stockings, a tight jacket, a woollen skullcap, a robe or cape, a prominent codpiece or strategically placed coin purse,<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" /> a black and red robe and yellow Turkish slippers.<ref name=":2" /> During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, a sword or dagger and gold medallion often accompanied the purse.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":1" /> The Pantalone mask is a half-mask with accents on bony structure, big, bushy eyebrows, a long, hooked nose, a mustache, and a long, pointed or forked beard.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite book|title=Playing Commedia|last=Grantham|first=Barry|pages=156}}</ref> He occasionally is noted as having horn spectacles.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Italian Popular Comedy|last=Lea|first=K.M.|pages=15}}</ref> He occasionally carries a walking stick, but it is used more as an aggravating weapon than an actual walking tool.<ref name=":5" /> Because of his skinny legs, Pantalone is often portrayed wearing trousers rather than knee-[[breeches]] (which Jacques refers to as "his youthful hose, well sav'd, a world too wide/For his shrunk [[Lower leg|shank]]"). He therefore became the origin of the name of a type of trouser called "pantaloons", which was later shortened to "[[Trousers|pants]]".<ref name="etymonline" />

==Related==
[[Angela Carter]]'s ''[[The Bloody Chamber]]'' (in the short story "Puss in Boots") gives another representation of Pantalone. The interpretation uses the spelling 'Pantaloon', but he follows a very similar description and ends up dead.

==See also==
* [[Commedia dell'arte]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.delpiano.com/carnival/html/pantalone.html Explanation on site from Roberto Delpiano dedicated to Venice.]

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[[Category:Vecchio class characters]]
[[Category:Fictional businesspeople]]
[[Category:Fictional Italian people]]