# IX: Pinocchio Goes to See a Puppet Show explained — The Adventures of Pinocchio

> Chapter companion for The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi.

## What happens

On his way to school, Pinocchio is distracted by the sound of fifes and drums leading to a puppet show. He sells his new spelling book to a hawker for a dime to buy a ticket, forgetting his father Geppetto's sacrifice.

## Themes in this chapter

### Education and Labor

Pinocchio chooses entertainment over education, selling the book his father sacrificed to buy.

### Parental Sacrifice and Love

Geppetto's sacrifice of his coat is contrasted with Pinocchio's frivolous sale of the spelling book.

## Character check-ins

### Pinocchio

Decides to skip school and sells his spelling book to attend a puppet show.

### Geppetto

Mentioned as having sold his coat to buy the spelling book, now left cold and shirtless.

## Key lines

> Today at school I will learn to read at once; then tomorrow I will begin to write, and the day after tomorrow to figure.

Pinocchio daydreams about quickly mastering reading, writing, and arithmetic.

_Shows his initial good intentions before temptation strikes._

> That poor man really deserves it, for to buy me books and have me taught he has remained in his shirtsleeves. And in this cold! It is only fathers who are capable of such sacrifices!

Pinocchio reflects on Geppetto's sacrifice of selling his coat to afford the spelling book.

_Highlights the theme of parental sacrifice._

> Today I will go and hear the fifes, and tomorrow I will go to school.

Pinocchio decides to postpone school to enjoy the puppet show.

_Illustrates his impulsive nature and poor decision-making._

> I will buy the spelling-book for a dime.

A secondhand clothes dealer offers to buy Pinocchio's spelling book.

_The moment Pinocchio trades his education for entertainment._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_adventures_of_pinocchio_se/chapters/ix-pinocchio-goes-to-see-a-puppet-show
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_adventures_of_pinocchio_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_adventures_of_pinocchio_se/chapters