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Pinocchio in Africa
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More by Eugenio Cherubini
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A clearer way to understand Pinocchio in Africa through themes, characters, and key ideas
This reading guide highlights what stands out in Pinocchio in Africa through 4 core themes, 2 character profiles. It is meant to help readers decide whether the book fits their taste and deepen the reading once they begin.
About this book
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What the book is doing
Eugenio Cherubini's "Pinocchio in Africa" is a deeply problematic sequel to Collodi's classic, published in 1913, serving as a thinly veiled piece of Italian colonial propaganda. The story follows Pinocchio, now a young boy rather than a puppet, as he embarks on an adventure to Italian Eritrea and other parts of Africa. Through his journey, the book attempts to justify Italian imperialism by depicting African people as primitive, savage, and in need of European 'civilization,' with Pinocchio acting as a benign agent of this colonial mission. It is a significant historical document illustrating prevalent racist and colonialist attitudes of early 20th-century Italy, rather than a standalone work of literary merit.
Key Themes
Colonialism and Imperialism
This is the overarching theme. The entire narrative is constructed to promote and justify Italian colonial expansion in Africa. Pinocchio's journey is a metaphorical 'civilizing mission,' where the 'primitive' African continent is presented as a territory ripe for European intervention, exploitation, and 'improvement.' The book implicitly argues for the benefits of colonial rule for both the colonizers and the colonized.
Racism and Dehumanization
The book is saturated with explicit racism. African people are consistently stripped of their individuality and humanity, reduced to crude caricatures defined by their perceived 'otherness' and inferiority. This dehumanization serves to rationalize their subjugation and exploitation under colonial rule, making it easier for the European audience to accept their treatment as necessary or natural.
“"Pinocchio... found himself in the midst of a multitude of blacks, naked, ugly, and wild."”
How does 'Pinocchio in Africa' utilize a beloved character to disseminate colonial propaganda and racist stereotypes?
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