# XXXIV: Pinocchio Is Swallowed by the Dog Fish explained — The Adventures of Pinocchio

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

## What happens

After being thrown into the sea as a donkey, Pinocchio is transformed back into a puppet by fish eating his donkey skin. He escapes his buyer, swims toward a rock where a blue-haired goat (the Fairy) beckons, but is swallowed by the giant Dogfish. Inside the monster's stomach, he meets a Tunny and sees a distant light, which he decides to investigate.

## Themes in this chapter

### Transformation and Identity

Pinocchio transforms back from a donkey to a puppet through the action of fish, highlighting the instability of his physical form and identity.

### Redemption and Moral Growth

Pinocchio acknowledges his past mistakes (dislike for study, bad companions) and the Fairy's continued care, showing a step toward moral growth.

## Character check-ins

### Pinocchio

Transformed back from a donkey to a puppet by fish; escapes his buyer; swims toward the Fairy but is swallowed by the Dogfish.

### The Fairy

Appears as a blue-haired goat on a white rock, trying to help Pinocchio escape the Dogfish.

### The Tunny

A philosophical fish also swallowed by the Dogfish; converses with Pinocchio about their predicament.

### The Dogfish

The gigantic sea-monster that swallows Pinocchio; described as the 'Attila of Fish and Fishermen.'

## Key lines

> I am the little donkey!

Pinocchio reveals to his buyer that he was the donkey thrown into the sea.

_Pinocchio's confession of his transformed state._

> It must have been the effect of sea water. The sea makes extraordinary changes.

Pinocchio jokingly attributes his transformation to the sea's magical properties.

_Pinocchio's playful explanation for his change from donkey to puppet._

> Resign ourselves and wait until the Dogfish has digested us both.

The Tunny suggests they accept their fate of being digested by the monster.

_The Tunny's philosophical resignation to their situation._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_adventures_of_pinocchio_se/chapters/xxxiv-pinocchio-is-swallowed-by-the-dog-fish
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_adventures_of_pinocchio_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_adventures_of_pinocchio_se/chapters