The only official date for the Pantolone Del Biscognosi character meaning (Pantalone of the needy) in Commedia Del Arte is in 1550 , but it was known to have been around much earlier than this . he was one of the most important characters in the play being portrayed as a stingy ,decrepit old venetian merchant with an unpleasant personality and at the top of the social order of the day .
everything about the character is based on money and his ego . from the Pantalone mask and his stance which is hunchbacked to impress on the audience his age and money grabbing ways to the way he falls backwards whenever news of financial distaer is relayed to him plus thinking himself highly intelligent , but usually becoming the butt of tricks and jokes .
most commonly he is the father of one of the two young lovers or else the elderly widower who wishes to marry the young woman, and trys to keep them apart. his most common traits are his attempts at making passes at women only to be rejected every time . his role in the play is pivotal as the bad element keeping the happy lovers apart.
a modern portrayal of this is in the simpsons with the character Mr Burns , who shows greed , misery, and the stinginess which sums up the pantalone exactly .
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