Despite the fact that Alexei Tolstoy was inspired by the work of Carlo Collodi when writing The Golden Key, and the beginning of the Russian fairy tale completely coincides with the beginning of Pinocchio, the differences between the two works and two characters are enormous. They relate to the main character, and all the secondary characters, and storylines.
Pinocchio and Pinocchio differ both in appearance and in their actions, and in motivation, and in evolution. Pinocchio's nose is long and pointed, it remains so throughout Tolstoy's novel. Pinocchio’s nose is also long, but nothing is said about its sharpness, but it grows every time the character tells someone a lie. Pinocchio wears a sock on his head, and Pinocchio wears a hat.
In the course of the story, Pinocchio undergoes various terrible and rather serious tests, almost dies, and at the end of the book receives a reward - he becomes a living boy from a wooden doll. Pinocchio is pleased with his fate as a wooden doll, the adventures in which his sharp long nose snatched him are more comical than tragic, and as a reward he receives the key to a wonderful country.
Pinocchio at the beginning of the story is an evil, insensitive and immoral creature whose tricks are cruel. In the course of action, he turns into a person with a good heart, and eventually acquires flesh. Pinocchio, despite the unrestrained choleric nature, shows signs of compassion, his actions are dictated more by prank than anger, as a result of a playful character allows him to win. Pinocchio has to undergo changes, adapt to the world in order to help others and himself. Pinocchio remains true to himself throughout history. He owes his success to disobedience, firmness of character and a cheerful disposition.
Speaking about the difference between The Golden Key and The Adventures of Pinocchio, it should be noted that Tolstoy's fairy tale contains much less morality and didactics, the plot is more dynamic and less stressful. This is a truly children's book from which it is easy to make a comic or cartoon.
Collodi's goal was precisely didactics in the form of a children's book, the proclamation of reflection and work on oneself. His goal was to frighten the reader with the consequences of disobedience, anger and excessive prank, in order to realize that patience, caring for others, suffering and atonement can make a person better. The Adventures of Pinocchio is a drama that children and their parents should read. In the case of Pinocchio, all the good qualities were originally laid in the hero, he only needed to develop them in friendship, danger and interesting adventures. This is no longer the concept of individual salvation through atonement, but the path of a positive hero to success.
