Geppetto

“*Good Geppetto, you have given so much happiness to others, that you deserve to have your wish come true.*”―The Blue Fairy before granting Pinocchio life

**Geppetto** is a major character in Disney's 1940 animated feature film, *Pinocchio*. He is a kindly, old woodcarver and the creator of Pinocchio, a wooden puppet that is brought to life by the Blue Fairy per Geppetto's wish to have a son.

## Background

Geppetto is described by Jiminy Cricket as a woodcarver who lives in a small home with his kitten Figaro and goldfish Cleo. Aside from his pets, he doesn't seem to have a family but nevertheless remains kind-hearted and humble. According to the Blue Fairy, Geppetto is somewhat of a saint, and he is implied to have spent the majority of his life selflessly bringing joy to others.

As mentioned, Geppetto is a woodcarver and is extremely talented in his work. His home is filled with a massive array of original creations, including toys, figurines, clocks, articulated knick-knacks, and other items created by Geppetto, himself. He also appears to have some musical talent, as he not only creates a number of music boxes but is seen playing the concertina.

### Personality

Geppetto is a humble old man, who gleefully spends the majority of his time working on unique creations in his workshop. Most of these creations are meant for the entertainment of both himself and others, presenting Geppetto as a playful child-at-heart. He doesn't have much sternness in his attitude, nor does has he shown any legitimately negative traits to his character, aside from being somewhat of a passive. **He is also very whimsical, with Jiminy describing his dreams as "lovely thoughts, but not at all practical", specifically referring to Geppetto's dream to have Pinocchio become a real boy. He doesn't make much of a fuss of how Pinocchio's sentience came to be, once they meet. Additionally, he speaks to and treats both Figaro and Cleo as his children, and, at times, confidantes, rather than animals. He also has a little mischievous sense of humor, as he made Pinocchio playfully kick Figaro and scare him before the puppet was brought to life.** As Pinocchio's father, Geppetto is undoubtedly loving, nurturing, and protective. He was initially shocked at Pinocchio's presence, being a living puppet, but was quick to set that aside for the sake of providing him with the love that any human child should receive. After Pinocchio went missing, Geppetto wasted no time in searching the village, and beyond, to find his son; taking on dark streets, rainstorms, and the deadly whale Monstro, Geppetto was relentless in ensuring his son was safe. After the two finally reunite, and Geppetto learns of Pinocchio's mishaps, he makes no effort to reprimand his evidently remorseful son, simply feeling grateful to finally be a united family once more.

## Biography

### *Pinocchio*

When first introduced, Geppetto is shown to be working on his latest, greatest creation, a marionette. Geppetto then names the puppet Pinocchio, for he was made of pine, and plays around with it once he's completed. This makes Figaro very jealous, which Geppetto realizes eventually.

Geppetto then realizes it's time for bed and spots a wishing star from his bed. He reveals to Figaro his wish for Pinocchio to become a real boy. Afterward, Geppetto dozes off to sleep. During his slumber, Geppetto is visited by the Blue Fairy who grants Geppetto's wish for his acts of kindness to others. Through her magic, Pinocchio comes to life. He walks and talks, complete with a conscience, Jiminy Cricket. While Jiminy and Pinocchio are singing to celebrate their union Pinocchio falls off the shelf and makes much noise.

After being awakened by the noise, Geppetto realizes that he, Cleo, and Figaro are not the only ones in the house at the moment. Geppetto spots Pinocchio, who he thinks is still just a puppet and places him back on the shelf. Pinocchio speaks to Geppetto, who believes he's dreaming and splashes water on himself. Geppetto realizes it's not a dream and begins to celebrate along with Cleo and Figaro. Pinocchio innocently catches his own finger on fire, and Geppetto panics. Geppetto then douses Pinocchio's finger with Cleo's fishbowl water and decides that the group should go to bed before anything else happens.

The next morning, Geppetto prepares Pinocchio for his first day of school, presenting him with a vest, a book, and an apple for the teacher. Figaro attempts to follow him, but of course, Geppetto stops him. On the way unknown to Geppetto, Pinocchio is taken to Stromboli by local crooks J. Worthington Foulfellow and his sidekick Gideon. When Pinocchio doesn't return home, Geppetto goes out once again to look for his son. At one point he passes Stromboli's Caravan, but neither he nor Pinocchio spot or hear each other. It is implied that he continues searching in vain before returning home in defeat and grief.

Later on, Geppetto, Figaro, and Cleo eventually learn of Pinocchio's presence on Pleasure Island, presumably from Foulfellow and Gideon or (much probably) from some inhabitants of the town who heard the duo of conmen singing at night while taking Pinocchio to the Coachman, and sail out to rescue him, but are swallowed by Monstro the whale on the way. After Pinocchio and Jiminy are informed of Geppetto's fate via a message from the Blue Fairy as a dove, it is Geppetto who is rescued. After a search, Pinocchio is swallowed by Monstro (though Jiminy is not) and reunites with Geppetto, who is taken aback when he discovers Pinocchio having been affected by Pleasure Island's curse and wonders how that happened to him. Though Pinocchio is hesitant, to tell the truth, Geppetto puts it aside for the moment since they are together again, and plan on how to escape Monstro. Pinocchio then plans to escape by making Monstro sneeze, though Geppetto is hesitant due to the monstrous whale's temper. The plan works but leads to a deadly chase. Geppetto nearly drowns when their raft is destroyed, but Pinocchio manages to save him. Geppetto, Cleo, Figaro, Jiminy all make it to safely to shore, but Pinocchio is killed by a giant wave. Back at Geppetto's workshop, Geppetto and the others mourn Pinocchio's death. In honor of Pinocchio's courage, the Blue Fairy revives Pinocchio as a real boy, also reversing the effects of Pleasure Island's curse he had contracted. Still overwhelmed by grief, Geppetto is initially ignorant of the fact that his son is alive (even while speaking to him), believing him to still be dead. However, when he looks up and sees Pinocchio, he rejoices to see his son alive and a real child. The family then celebrates in elation.

## Trivia

* The name "Geppetto" is a variant of "Giuseppe", which is Italian for "Joseph", and it's also the diminutive for "Geppo", which is the Tuscan pronunciation for *ceppo*, meaning a log, stump, block, stock or stub.
* In the original Italian story of Pinocchio, Geppetto was depicted as a woodcarver on hard times, so poor he can't even afford wood for a fire, so he paints one in his fireplace! He also was also a bit vain, as he wore a silly blond wig to try to hide his baldness, and also had a bit of an irascible side, especially if people made fun of his wig. The author Carlo Collodi was said to have based the character on an eccentric old man he knew growing up, only the real-life Geppetto was a coffin-maker, not a wood-carver! (Granted, both careers deal with wood...)
* In a deleted scene for the original film, Geppetto was to tell the story of Pinocchio's "grandfather", a mighty tree.
* In at least one book adaptation of *Pinocchio*, like the 1953 *Pinocchio* (Little Golden Book), it is specified that Geppetto sailed to search Pinocchio on Pleasure Island, thus giving sense to his departure.
* Animator Art Babbitt once noted that Geppetto was his favorite character to animate.
* In *Disney's Villains' Revenge*, Geppetto is mentioned when you click on a clock that in the bedroom with Jiminy Cricket saying, "That's a one of a kind cuckoo clock - made by Geppetto himself".