The European birth of Harlequin : origins, evolution and survival of the most famous and hilarious stock character of commedia dell’arte

The aim of the article is to describe the origins of the most famous stock character of commedia dell’arte – Harlequin, and present it as the part of the European cultural heritage. To this end, the paper explores the ancient and medieval roots of commedia dell’arte, as well as its impact on the European theatre, with particular emphasis placed on the Germanic tradition and the Scandinavian folklore related to it. The paper examines also the evolution of the typical astute servant and trickster Zanni into his more sophisticated form of Harlequin in France and in Italy. The formation process of his worldwide known name is also given. Furthermore, the paper highlights the importance of the pagan and folkloristic roots in the creation of the later Harlequin. The article traces also the origins of other Harlequin-like characters who emerged in The Netherlands, Russia or Sweden. Thus a broader perspective is given for the phenomenon of the hilarious servant who became the icon of the European comic stage. His numerous variants in many countries unveil the universal value of the figure that is still discernible among the characters of the modern theatre or cinema.