Pinocchio Book Analysis

In Collodi’s Pinocchio, the recurring motif of birth-death-rebirth is employed to describe Pinocchio’s growth in the world. The character suffers symbolic deaths and receives advice from the world beyond. Finally, he emerges from the underworld as a whole, a man.

Pinocchio is a favorite of illustrators, which has resulted in a rich and varied visual language. The book’s clever juxtaposition of light and darkness is especially effective. For example, three major scenes take place in the dark, including the burning of the puppet’s feet, being almost burnt by assassins, and being burnt over the Green Fisherman’s cooking fire.

Metamorphosis is another charged thematic element. Pinocchio is first described as a block of wood, then transforms into a donkey and finally into flesh. As a result, it is not surprising to find that the story carries metamorphic imagery throughout. In fact, Stelio Cro has even described the story as a boiling point between two primal elements, wood and flesh.

Thematically, Pinocchio’s adventures demonstrate the difficulties of becoming a responsible adult. While many of the actions of the title character are comical and childish, they still represent the qualities of a true child. While Pinocchio’s misfortunes are the logical consequences of his folly, they also present opportunities for personal growth. Pinocchio is a victim of his own impulsivity and lacks basic self-control and civilized behavior. Pinocchio is a favorite of illustrators, which has resulted in a rich and varied visual language.

This story also addresses egocentricity. Although Pinocchio is rarely punished for his selfishness, he is punished for his willfulness and inexperience. In spite of his misfortunes, he returns to school and completes the school year with the highest honors. After the story concludes, he is apparently reconciled with the Fairy.

The story of Pinocchio reflects the struggles of a child in a family. In the end, he achieves the correct child role, subduing his individuality to the needs of his family. Through this sacrifice, he achieves his role within the family and gains respect from his family.

While Pinocchio is a beloved book, its meaning remains mysterious to many people outside Italy. Children outside Italy are unlikely to get a sense of Collodi’s didactic message or appreciate the level of linguistic sophistication that is present in the story. The story also contains various levels of irony, socio-cultural innuendo, and satire against adult society. However, the translators don’t necessarily indicate awareness of such non-childish aspects.

The characters are very important in the plot of Pinocchio. Without them, he would not have survived his ordeals. He also needs his supernatural friends, such as the Talking Cricket’s ghost. This ghostly character is the only one who understands when to keep his mouth shut.

Although Pinocchio’s heart is good, he is lazy, disobedient, and has poor judgment. His nose grows longer when he lies. Eventually, he is transformed back into his original form. Later, he finds himself an unwitting star of a circus show and lives in a world of boobies. As the story progresses, he encounters many adventures along the way.