Morals of Pinocchio

Honesty is perhaps one of the greatest morals that one can possess. A moral is something that we look at to remind ourselves of what is right and what is wrong. Throughout our history there have been many stories and myths that are based off of this idea. One story, made even more popular by its Disney remake, is Pinocchio.
Once upon a time, there lived an old man. His name was Geppetto. He was a sad, lonely old man whose only real desire was to have a son. In this story, Geppetto creates a wooden puppet to act as his son. In his desperation for a son, he wishes upon a star that his puppet would turn into a real boy. This wish is heard by the Blue Fairy, who decides that she will partially grant him his wish. She brings Pinocchio, the wooden puppet, to life. However, in order to become a real boy, Pinocchio has to prove that he is morally worthy. His first lesson is begins when he is on his way to school. He is met by the Fox and the Cat who attempt to lead him astray. Although he is aware of his obligation to go to school, the pair talk him into leaving with them. As a result, Pinocchio finds himself locked in a cage and forced to play the lead role in Mangiafuoco 's theatre. He is rescued by the Blue Fairy and Jiminy Cricket. Shortly after his rescue, Pinocchio is again tempted away by the Fox and the Cat and finds himself at Pleasure Island. While in Pleasure Island, he is allowed to act however he chooses. He can be lazy and play all day. The only stipulation is that he starts to turn into a donkey. He is again rescued by the Blue Fairy and Jiminy Cricket. Finally, Pinocchio learns that his father, Geppetto, has been eaten by a whale while on his search to find Pinocchio. In the process of saving his father, he loses his life. In return for his selflessness, the Blue Fairy turns Pinocchio into a real boy.
The main lesson in this story is the value of honesty. Throughout the story, Pinocchio is faced with many temptations that test his morals. While honesty is the most obvious lesson in this story, we also learn the value of bravery and selflessness. The way that the book is able to relate to its audience is very important. For example, when Pinocchio first learns about dishonesty, he finds that every time he tells a lie, his nose grows longer. This message is then explained by the Blue Fairy that every time you tell a lie, it keeps growing and growing. This can be a useful reminder when trying to teach young children the value of honesty because it personifies the lesson. A lie is now represented by a growing nose. Another message in this story is the difference between working hard versus being lazy. This happens when Pinocchio finds himself at Pleasure Island. The lesson is if you are going to act like a donkey instead of doing hard work, then you will literally turn into a donkey. Again, the author is personifying the trait which makes it easier to remember. The final lesson in the story is the value of selflessness. Pinocchio learns that Geppetto has set out on a quest to find him, and in the process Geppetto was swallowed by Monstro, a giant whale. Pinocchio swims to the bottom of the ocean and finds Monstro, now understanding the meaning of bravery. During his rescue of Geppetto, Pinocchio drowns thus showing his selflessness. The Blue Fairy feels like Pinocchio has successfully proven himself worthy. He has completed his “great deed” (Janaro, 2012). He now understands the importance of honesty, working hard, bravery and selflessness. She brings Pinocchio back to life and turns him into a real boy, hence the birth of a hero (Janaro, 2012).
Storytelling is effective because it can bring the story to life. Communicating lessons in story format, especially to children, is effective because it personifies the lesson. In Pinocchio, there were several examples of personification. For example, the growing nose represents lies and the donkey represents laziness. Pinocchio himself can be considered an archetype. When children hear his story, they may view Pinocchio as a hero, especially in the end when he saves his father. When listening to a story, the audience has a chance to reflect and relate what they hear in the story to their life. Once this kind of connection is formed, then the information is easier to remember and they are left with a feeling of reassurance and safety (Janaro, 2012).
Pinocchio successfully relates to its audience the importance of moral worthiness. Throughout his adventures Pinocchio learns, as well as the reader, the significance of honesty, working hard, bravery and selflessness. When these lessons are taught in a story format, the reader then tends to relate their own life to the story.
References
Janaro, R. P., & Altshuler, T. C. (2012). The art of being human: The humanities as a technique for living (Kaplan University 3rd custom ed.). New York: Pearson Education.

References: Janaro, R. P., & Altshuler, T. C. (2012). The art of being human: The humanities as a technique for living (Kaplan University 3rd custom ed.). New York: Pearson Education.