Who is zanni

Full Face Volto. Music Theme. Mini Masks. Wall Hangings. Luxury Selection. Wearable Masks. Macrame Lace. Cat Masks. White or Cream. For Her. Decorative Masks. Here is some background on the Commedia dell'Arte characters that many of the Venetian Masks designs are based on: 1.

Zanni Zanni is probably not the first character that springs to mind when you think of Commedia dell'Arte characters. Pantalone Pantalone is a well known Commedia dell'Arte character. The original name of this character was an old man named "Magnifico". He spoke in plain, yet musical Venetian dialect. The original name soon gave way to the more well known "Pantalone".

There are numerous interpretations about the origin of this name. It is said that it derives from San Pantalone, one of the Saints venerated in the city of Venice. A Venetian church is even named after San Pantalone. Another possible origin is the term "piantaleoni", a name used for the merchants who opened their stalls in conquered lands and symbolically "planted" the Lion of St Mark to extend the power of the city of Venice through trade.

The character Pantelone is of course an old merchant, so it does give some credence to this theory. Other theories are that the name pre-dates this era and goes back to the Greek expression meaning "powerful in all things".

Pantalone's character is generally an old merchant, often wealthy and esteemed, at other times completely ruined, yet always an old man in every detail, with business skills. His mask typically highlighted his physical characteristics including a hooked nose and prominent eyebrows.

Zanni often has the function of being addressed, particularly by Il Capitano, in order to prevent monologue. He is everyone's 'gofer'. The facchini were greatly disliked by the Venetians, but Zanni has frequent dialogues with Pantalone in a symbiosis of status and temperment.

Relationship to Audience:. He has the possibility of direct, four-square address to the audience, because he is the most sympathetic character. He treats the audience collectively. Frequent Plot Function:. The principal contributor to any confusion. His survival instinct is strongest of all the Commedia archetypes. He suffers from the spasms of an ancestral hunger which is his basic, everyday condition; he is, as a result, insatiable, but capable of being spiritedly ironical about his plight.

This great hunger leads to a vision of Utopioa where everything is comestible, reminiscent of the followers of gluttony in Carnival processions. His pre-Christian, animistic view of the worldmeans he senses a spirit in everything: therefore it could be eaten. Hunger is a universal problem and, comedically at least, is capable of a universal solution. Zanni is ignorant and loutish, and has no self-awareness. The very act of thinking is alien to him - the very sight of Zanni straining to give birth to an idea is risible.

But he is astute in knavery; a loafer, but willing and able to dish out heavy thwacks with this slapstick; intolerant of discipline and authority, but very faithful. He lives totally in the present: he never, for example, looks for somewhere to sleep, sleep just happens to him, often in totally unsuitable situations.

All his reactions are emotional. Lazzi of poor sight. Speaks in the direction of the last person to speak. That person moves but Zanni continues to talk to them as if they are there. Lazzi of poor hearing. Can't understand what people are saying to him, or repeats back gross misinterpretations.

Lazzi of dropping what he is doing for a banana. Lazzi of wandering out of the playing area aimlessly and quickly reappearing in another part of the playing area which he could not have possibly gotten to. Vita di Arlecchino [Life of Arlecchino]. Bologna: Il Mulino, Nicoll, Allardyce.

The World of Harlequin. Cambridge, Nosari, Pier Giorgio. Definition of Zanni. Love words? Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with: More than , words that aren't in our free dictionary Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes Advanced search features Ad free! Join Our Free Trial Now! Learn More About Zanni. Statistics for Zanni Look-up Popularity.