Modern-day Interpretations
Pantalone's character has transcended through the decades; "were we to seek his present-day counterpart we should not be far wrong in thinking of a middle-aged businessman, wealthy and well esteemed, apt at times to dally with ladies full of doubtful virtue, at other times as apt to show himself the devoted father anxious to protect a young son or puzzled by the actions of a daughter he does not understand". Parts of his character, from the overprotective father to the greedy man concerned with nothing but his wealth, are traits familiar to today's pop-culture world. For example, the school principal in the film Sixteen Candles (1984) is an interpretation of the Pantalone character, for his goal is to keep the two main characters from being together and to maintain some type of control of his school. He is the bitter old man determined to keep his students from having any kind of fun. On the television show The Simpsons, Mr. Burns, owner of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant and the richest citizen of Springfield, is perhaps the epitome of the Pantalone character. He is greedy, stingy, and occasionally downright mean.
Pantalone is one of the most complex characters found in commedia dell'arte and is arguably the most important character in any commedia production. Commedia would not have the true commedia-essence without the eternally bitter Pantalone, driven to protect and control the money and keep the lovers apart. He is a true nod to the development of Italian comedy, providing humor, absurdity, and even some pity from audiences who frequent the commedia-scene.