Eng 1

Angela Eng

Heng Ching Shr

English 7th grade

Essay 2

Development

​ In the story Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi, the protagonist Pinocchio is a mischievous

marionette who causes trouble everywhere he goes. His toymaker Geppetto who Pinocchio

recognizes as his father. On his mischievous adventure, he meets a Blue Fairy who saves him

from danger and plays a crucial role in his character development. He wants to become a real

boy and asks the fairy for help. For Pinocchio to become a real boy he has to prove that he has

matured. I argue that with guidance and with multiple consequences and experience, it is never

too late to do the right thing. Regardless of Pinocchio’s bad decisions, he can still seek help and

the guidance he needs to improve his decision making. Even with the guidance, Pinocchio might

not alter his behavior. He has to go through many consequences before he is ready to mature.

​ First of all, even though Pinocchio was not yet a marionette he was already aggravating

towards his toymaker Geppetto. “But just as he was going to give it to his friend, the piece of

wood jumped out of his hands and struck Gepetto a terrible blow upon the knees” (5). This

unexpected mischievous behavior had sparked the beginning of Pinocchio’s mischievous

behavior. Geppetto had no idea that this was only the beginning of Pinocchio’s antics. If his

misbehavior continued, there would be even bigger consequences to face. As Geppetto carved

Pinocchio, he taught him how to walk properly. However, instead of following Geppetto's

guidance, Pinocchio ran away to avoid school and work. He was already causing trouble. With
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or without guidance Pinocchio was still a nuisance, if this continues his playful and disobedient

behavior. Would turn into a spiral of recklessness

In other words, Pinocchio was very easily distracted and could be put under a bad

influence very easily. Without guidance or any help, he would fall into a dangerous trap set by

others. Even under the guidance of a virtuous person, he can still be tricked very easily. He is

offered by a Cat and Fox to double his gold pieces, so he can get more gold to give to his father.

“Instead of going home, you must go with us to the land of owls” (33). Pinocchio’s curiosity

took over him, making him very tempted to believe untrue things . At first, Pinocchio rejected

this offer. However, his moment of hesitation allows greed to take. This scenario shows that,

regardless of the guidance provided, Pinocchio can still be tricked by those with bad intentions..

Even though greed takes over him, he thinks about Geppetto who has helped him since he was

carved into a marionette. Even with navigation Pinocchio still gets influenced by bad people, so

he has to learn on his own. Which means he will have to go through many consequences to

finally learn his lesson.

Additionally, Pinocchio is very needy and selfish. After the Fox and Cat betray him by

disguising as robbers and try to rob him, but he runs to a cottage and a Blue fairy saves him. The

Blue fairy has Pinochio drink medicine to save him but he doesn’t want it. “If it is bitter, I will

not take it,” said he” (45). After this, the Blue Fairy presents him with a piece of sugar to ease

the bitter taste, but he begs for it before he swallows the medicine. As he is savoring the sugar

lump, he refuses to drink the medicine. Suddenly, four black rabbits appear to take him away,

and that's when Pinocchio understands the urgency of listening to the Fairy and taking the

medicine. Here Pinocchio takes the guidance from the Blue fairy, but only through the

consequence he was about to receive. He said little boys like him would rather die than drink
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medicine. His perspective resembles a young child, by declining preferences and a tendency to

require constant attention.

Furthermore, as Pinocchio continues his journey, he tries to satisfy his hunger by stealing

grapes, marking his tendency to prioritize his own needs. This impulsive act leads to trouble

when he gets caught in a trap: “He had hardly reached the vines when his legs were caught

between two iron bars” (53). As punishment, the farmer makes him guard the chickens. When

robbers arrive, Pinocchio barks to alert the farmer but wisely chooses to wait until questioned

before revealing the situation. This decision marks an important moment in his character

development, showing loyalty and maturity. When he finally tells the truth about the robbers, his

honesty earns him his freedom, demonstrating important growth throughout the story. Pinocchio

learns that being truthful can lead to better outcomes, transforming his understanding of integrity

and the consequences of his actions. This experience teaches him that personal growth often

comes from learning from one's mistakes and valuing honesty in one’s life.

As Pinocchio undergoes significant growth as he learns to distinguish between right and

wrong. No longer a foolish marionette, he becomes hardworking and appreciative of those

around him. His willingness to sacrifice himself for his father is evident when he says, "Throw

the mallet at me, but pity my poor papa" (104). This change in mindset shows that he is ready to

mature into a real boy .While living in the cottage, Pinocchio works hard to meet Geppetto’s

needs. When he learns that the Blue Fairy is ill and in need, he dedicates himself to making

money for her. Through these experiences, he matures and learns important lessons. The Blue

Fairy recognizes his growth and rewards him by transforming him into a real boy. Ultimately,

Pinocchio discovers that there are no shortcuts in life and learns to value the support of those

around him.
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In conclusion, Pinocchio's transformation is a bumpy journey that will stick with him for

life. Each adventure he experiences shapes his character and contributes to his growth. His desire

to become a real boy makes him learn important values like honesty, bravery, and love. While he

faces many challenges and temptations that test his resolve, each difficulty serves as a crucial

lesson in accountability and better decision making. As these trials develop his character,

revealing that the path to becoming who we pursue to be is filled with important lessons.

Pinocchio’s transformation highlights that the value of our desires lies in the journey and the

wisdom gained along the way. Even though his journey is tough, it is those struggles that make

achieving his dream truly worthwhile, instilling a lasting sense of purpose and understanding in

him.