Columbina Essays

Columbina is one of the many loved stock characters of Commedia dell’ Arte. Perhaps the wisest character and undeniably the most rational, she is most times the only one who has her head on straight. Many describe her to be sassy, sexy and sarcastic. With her quick wit and unabashed flirtatious personality, she brings a strong female aura to the mix. She’s smart, sharp, self-educated and oozes confidence; never afraid to keep her fellow male counterparts in check, (even if it means whacking her own

The poem “A Certain Lady” by Dorothy Parker, is an unrequited love declaration presented in first person by the speaker to a love interest, whom remains oblivious to the feelings expressed by the speaker. The writer, Dorothy Parker, best known her piercing wit and wordplay was a celebrated writer and critic during the prime of the roaring 20’s and 30’s. A biography on her life and people she worked with while she wrote gives insight to a story about a woman who was lonely, sad, and unlucky in love

There are 6 main prototypes of Comedia Dell’arte namingly: Pantalone, Ill Dottore, Ill Capitano, Arlecchino, Brighella and Columbina. Each of these stock characters portrayed a distinct set of attributes—characteristic speech, gestures, props, and costumes- that became the portayal of the character. The 2 prototyped characters in discussion will be Ill Dottore and Columbina. Words one could use to describe Ill Dottore are