Against Chapter XXXVI: Sequels and Remakes of Collodi's Pinoccohio in Italian Literature

Abstract

This article discusses the last chapter of Collodi's Pinocchio in its relationship with the rest of the novel, and analyzes how several other authors responded to the very content of that chapter. Many 20^th-century authors have in fact noticed a deep discrepancy between the adventures contained in the body of the novel and the brusque, somehow extrinsic and unprepared happy ending. They have consequently created alternative versions of Pinocchio that end before Collodi's original ending, or that depart from the penultimate chapter of the novel to move in new directions. In other cases, authors have created sequels of Collodi's story where Pinocchio, now a boy, attempts to return to being a puppet. The examples discussed include short stories by Arpino and Malerba, plays by Salvini and Benni, a rhyme version by Trinci, a comic book by Bilotta and Mammucari, and a mock official dossier by Placido. The analysis emphasizes the strategies these authors have used to give open endings to their works in response to their dissatisfaction with the solution proposed in the original novel.