Harlequin is the official 2 CoOl 4 sChOol Society mascot but way before that, he was a recurrent character of the Italian Commedia dell' Arte. You can get a complete "biography" on wikipedia, so let's put on the side his origins, traditional part in the Commedia and all that.Harlequin, above all, is, to me, the one who's got it all:
first of all he could cope with his incongruous costume from the 15th throughout the 18th century when nowadays I can't even wear pants like his in 21st century Paris without getting disgusted and/or horrified looks in the street.
But above that, what makes me so fascinated by this character is his usual hability of screwing things up perfectly. In Commedia dell' Arte he is just an insignificant servant (aren't we all?) and yet always manages to fool with his Master's plans. That sounds like a rockin' life to me: wearing flashy and unsuited outfits & having way more freedom than your condition normally implies.
Ok, ok, he was also "generally depicted as stupid and gluttonous" but i know tons of people that are but still they have no sense of style nor any kind of freedom.
PeOpLe of PAriS:
can you let me wear this freely now? or shall I just keep on not paying attention to those lout behaviors on the street...?
