Pinocchio: a Bildungsroman?

Abstract

In this article I will discuss the novel by Collodi The adventures of Pinocchio. I will start from the following question: can we consider Pinocchio a Bildungsroman? I’ll show that it is hardly possible to do so because there is no change in Pinocchio. The second question is whether this novel is actually a novel for children. I will argue that this is a book that does not consider the feelings of the boy, but aims at forcing him to adapt to the world outside. This world is made up of specific values that Pinocchio does not understand. These are the same values that characterize the post Risorgimento period. Pinocchio does not understand them but finally decides to accept them and abandon the search for his own identity.