Jul 15, 2019
Image: Pinocchio - clipartpanda.com
Most of us learn these bleak nursery rhymes as toddlers, according to boredomtherapy.com, mimicking our mothers as they teach us the silly songs. It makes you wonder, what other seemingly wholesome stories conceal bleak origins?
Well, as it turns out, there’s a lot more to Disney’s Pinocchio than most people realize. Kids all over the world instantly relate to the puppet who only wants to be a real boy, but, yep, the joyful puppet’s hiding something.
For one thing, Pinocchio is not a Disney original character. Instead, his earliest appearance dates back to 1881, in a tale that sees the living marionette endure a much darker and more twisted series of adventures.
Italian author Carlo Collodi detailed the puppet boy’s adventures throughout issues of children’s magazines. In contrast to Disney’s warm and fuzzy adaption, Carlo seemed more interested in really using the story to teach a lesson.
Not only does Carlo eventually reward characters for doing good, but he also goes out of his way to punish any immoral act in the story. All in all, his fairy tale resembles the sinister tone of the writings of the Brothers Grimm.
For starters, Collodi’s Geppetto doesn’t explicitly wish for Pinocchio to come to life. He’s just a poor beggar carving a marionette, which gains consciousness on its own. From the moment the lonely man starts carving, Pinocchio’s nose begins to take shape and grow.
Though Collodi doesn’t have the Blue Fairy endow Pinocchio with life, she does appear — in a way. Called the Fairy with Turquoise Hair, she pops up sporadically to guide him. And, to add a layer of creepiness, she describes herself as a dead girl who was never buried.
Disney’s Pinocchio makes his fair share of mistakes, which endanger himself and his loved ones. But the original goes out of his way to be rude and selfish. For everyone around Pinocchio, there are a lot of strings attached.
The puppet does more than just lie to Geppetto. He exploits him financially, selling off his meager possessions for a theater ticket and other frivolities. When the police witness Pinocchio’s antics, they accuse Geppetto of negligence and toss the adoptive father in jail.
Jiminy Cricket serves as Pinocchio’s conscience and famously sings about wishing upon stars. The Collodi novel, however, doesn’t even name him. That’s probably a wise choice since the talking cricket doesn’t have much of a role in the story.
The cricket does appear, spouting advice to the misbehaving Pinocchio, but he is having none of it. Channeling his inner Thor, the puppet nonchalantly grabs one of Geppetto’s hammers and hurls it at the wall. It pulverizes the poor insect.
Collodi likely devised these unlikeable moments to set up Pinocchio’s eventual redemption, though that’s not all. They also help readers feel less guilty for Pinocchio when terrible things happen to him.
The Disney adaptation sees the puppet trapped on Pleasure Island, where misbehaving boys turn into donkeys and get sold into slavery. Luckily, Pinocchio’s transformation halts after he receives a donkey tail and ears.
Collodi, however, has the protagonist fully morph into a donkey. When an old man tries to drown Pinocchio so he can skin him, the puppet gets out of danger through disturbing means: fish devour all the donkey flesh around him, leaving the puppet unharmed.
Just like in the animated movie, the novel introduces a conniving Fox and Cat who try to con Pinocchio. For family audiences, Walt Disney and company left out their most bloodthirsty plots.
The book includes a scene — which Collodi planned as the original ending — where the Fox and Cat attempt to murder Pinocchio. Disguised as bandits, they ambush him in the forest and hang him from a tree. Fortunately, the Fairy later shows up to rescue him.
Despite their very different paths, both the novel and Disney film reach the same destination. The Fairy uses her magic to fulfill Pinocchio’s wish by turning him into a real boy.
Moreover, the variations in these stories of Pinocchio only enrich his legend. They give writers and filmmakers more space to project their own visions, which explain the many other film adaptations released over the years.
No matter which version is your favorite, there’s no denying that the puppet is one of the most enduring pop culture icons ever. If you claim you haven’t heard of Pinocchio, there’s a good chance your nose will start growing.
While Disney may base its movies on some fantastical source material, the filmmakers draw frequently on reality to make these hit films, too. Some of Disney’s most unbelievable moments were rooted in reality…
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