Il Capitano
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Il Capitano (the Captain) is a masked character from the Commedia dell'Arte.
It is the character of a veteran sailor who pretends to be strong. Many people see him as a hero because he had gained some success in a previous war. However, he really is a coward and got the credit for what someone else did.
He can be an old retired captain, a character that Pantalone wants his daughter to marry, or one of the innamorati. As a coward, when one of the characters orders him to do something, he often steps down out of fear, but the other characters still see him as a brave character.
He is often dressed in his military uniform.
A familiar manifestation of Il Capitano would be Royal from the "Royal Tennenbaums"