Pinocchio: Renowned children’s story of today doesn’t resemble original 1883 tale

It seems the would-be-boy, renown for his penchant for fibbing, learned it from us. His story has been retranslated, condensed, adapted and otherwise retold on stage, in film and in postmodern fiction. But SUNY Plattsburgh UUP member Thomas Morrissey aims to prove that, in the process, much of the truth of Pinocchio’s story has been lost.

Morrissey has helped to write and publish a book that details the experience of the story in North America. His book, Pinocchio Goes Postmodern: Perils of a Puppet in the United States, marries history to the fictional life of the little wooden boy we always assumed we knew. First critiquing the original novel written by Carlo Collodi in 1883, Morrissey and his co-author Richard Wunderlich reveal that changes and adaptations to the story coincided with social and economic change, leading to a story and lesson very different from its creator’s intention.

“In the English rendition, Pinocchio tells us about changes in North American society through the years and their effect on our children,” Morrissey said.

Notwithstanding the impact of more than a hundred years of interpretation by cultures around the world, Morrissey and his co-author hope to reintroduce Pinocchio to an audience that, perhaps after reading their study, will be willing to give the little puppet a second chance.

“Part of understanding and revitalizing the story involves realizing that there is more than just a story about the pitfalls of lying here,” Morrissey said. “In fact, Collodi’s original story details an experience very different from the dumbed-down, cartoonish versions available to children today.”

Recognizing and critiquing a trend in the adaptation of children’s literature to suit larger social needs, Morrissey sees the changes in Pinocchio as deliberate and artificial.

“Too frequently, the newer versions of the book avoid Collodi’s social concerns and give us a Pinocchio who is truly a puppet — passive, compliant and uncritical.”

Move over Harry Potter. It turns out the original Pinocchio is a story that challenges children to take charge of their world and ask questions, and encourages them to learn more from experience than by example. The story and theme are very different from the Disney-fied version of the 1940s.

“Ultimately, children of today, like those of the 19th century, need tools to face the harsh realities of life. Pinocchio not only encourages them to make decisions for themselves, but to trust in themselves as well,” Morrissey said. “If we want our kids to grow up to become responsible, respectable and productive citizens of tomorrow, we need stories like Pinocchio to encourage them to make decisions for themselves.”

— Thea Brewster