ABSTRACT
This chapter marks a crucial juncture of this book, tackling the vital question of the developments leading to the emergence of the most important late Renaissance-early modern form of theatre, the commedia dell’arte, insofar as it contributed to the shaping of the modern public sphere—an influence which, this book argues, was huge and mostly overlooked. At the beginning of Chapter 4 it was mentioned that the best figures in the field have recognised that this rebirth of theatre is shrouded in mystery. We are now in a better position to understand the nature of this mystery, piecing together elements of the puzzle and moving towards its solution.
