Pinocchio

By C. Collodi

First written in 1881-1882.

This edition printed in 1940.

 

 I recently returned from a visit to Columbia, Mo. with a couple of Bur oak acorns, some hedge apples, a recipe for a delicious gorgonzola cheese cake, and many fun memories.  Oh, and one more thing – a vintage copy of the book Pinocchio. (Thanks to the Myers.) This is the real, unabridged, non-Disney version, and I have to say I was in for a shock.  

My prior knowledge of the wooden puppet came from the Disney musical in which a wooden puppet carved by Geppetto learns the lesson to be brave, truthful, and unselfish through a few encounters with some unsavory characters, ultimately living happily ever after as a real boy.  However, when Jiminy Cricket appears in chapter 4 of the book, he is swiftly murdered by Pinocchio.  

 “When he heard these words Pinocchio jumped up in a rage and, snatching a hammer from the table, threw it at the Talking Cricket.

It struck the unfortunate insect exactly on the head, so that he had hardly breath to cry ‘Cri-cri-cri’ before he died, dried up and flattened against the wall.”

Yes, this would definitely be different tale than the one I knew!

Pinocchio, without Jiminy to guide him, falls into innumerable tragic situations before the story’s end.  

His feet burn off while he warmed himself by the fire.

He was hung from a tree by swindlers, one of whom had a paw bitten off by Pinocchio.

He is chained to a doghouse and forced to become a watchdog for a farmer.

His foot gets stuck in a door after he became impatient with a snail was taking too long to answer his knock.   

Pinocchio remains a spoiled, selfish, ungrateful little puppet for much longer than he should have with all of these potential learning experiences.

Lesson learned:

If you think you know a classic story because you’ve seen the Disney movie, think again!  Read the book!