Pinocchio Italian-American Immigrants

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Madeline Hartman
Period 6
Honsa

The film "Pinocchio", released in 1940, revolves around the hardships of Italian- American immigrants. Disney’s account of Pinocchio’s story portrays charisma, attitudes, and cultural views of immigrants as they attempt to adapt within American culture. Numerous details have been displayed in the film and demonstrate the how the shift in culture may have been experienced.
Geppetto, the creator of Pinocchio, is not wealthy. Geppetto harbors in his abilities as a craftsman and woodcarver. Italian-American immigrants who were talented tradesmen, farmers, and businessmen were unable to immediately have professions and modest incomes. Given that Italians, who were chased out by their own government and were also the most desperate to leave, it comes as no surprise that a large number of them ended up in such low level work as mining and construction.
As Pinocchio first delves into the outside world, he is excited to attend school so he can be like every other kid. Italian immigrants’ children were able to attend the U.S public school system, unlike their parents who were unable to attend school. The children had become immersed …show more content…

Monstro, a giant whale feared by all sea creatures, swallowed Geppetto. Monstro is a blue whale and is aggressive and seeks vengeance. Even as he embarks upon a routine feed, there is overemphasis of a conniving grimace displayed on the creature out of gratification. Monstro presumably experiences great pleasure and satisfaction in consuming those who are deemed feeble in comparison to him. This interpretation towards the Italian-American lineage is suggestive towards the tyrannous mindset of the American masses against immigrants in the early 1900’s, more specifically, Italian immigrants. The grandiose mass of darkness that is presented as Monstro is darkly reminiscent of the horrific events that took place in New Orleans in

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