Influence of Commedia dell'arte

Commedia dell’Arte has two major elements: improvisation and stock characters (Brockett 150). Stock characters were so important that usually one actor played the same role throughout his career. Commedia dell’Arte was created for the common people since most earlier Italian shows were put on for an aristocratic audience. The characters of commedia dell’Arte were either straight or exaggerated roles (Brockett 150). The young lovers were like the pop culture in Italian theater. They dressed …showed first 75 words of 781 total…

…showed last 75 words of 781 total…Mariane, Orgon’s daughter, and her lover Valere. Life is a Dream’s main Commedia counterpart is the character of Clarion. Another servant, he is like the audience and observes the absurdity of the upper classes, all the while making asides to the audience. There are young lovers in the play- Rosaura and Astolfo- who more straight characters. Clarion gets himself into trouble because of his scheming, much like the Capitano, and boasting too much.