Hansel and Gretel by Bruno Bettelheim
This interpreting text "Hansel and Gretel" has been written by Bruno Bettelheim. Here, the writer has interpreted the fairy-tale of Hansel and Gretel showing various social and cultural meanings. This text has presented the bitter reality that poverty, scarcity and hardships lead people towards selfishness, cruelty and bad deeds in society.
Hansel and Gretel had fear in their minds that their parents would abandon them in the jungle due to the lack of food. Their stepmother was so cruel and selfish woman. Though their father loved them so much, he couldn't go against his wife's will. He felt guilty himself and his heart became heavy when he left his children in the dense forest. The children came back home though their parents were selfish.
Interpretation
Bruno Bettelheim interprets the folk-tale “Hansel and Gretel” revealing (showing) various social and cultural meanings. The story reveals the bitter truth that poverty, scarcity and hardships lead people towards selfishness, cruelty and bad deeds (bad works). Hansel and Gretel have always· a fear in their minds that their own parents want to abandon (leave) them because of the lack of food. The step-mother is cruel and selfish. Though the father loves the children, he can’t go against his wife. He feels guilty and his heart becomes heavy when he leaves the children in the dense forest. The children come back to the house through their parents are selfish. In our society also, the step-mothers are generally selfish, cruel and jealous. They usually hate their stepchildren and force their husbands to do whatever they want. The same thing happens in this story. Because of the cruelty of the stepmother, the children ‘(Hansel and Gretel) suffer a lot. However, suffering and hardships make children bold and mature. Facing many difficulties, they reach the house of the witch. They are tempted by the bread and sugar of the house. When they are welcomed by the witch, they become happy. But, when the witch plans to kill them, they realize the danger of greed and temptation. They learn that to be greedy is to invite risk. When the children kill the witch and return with jewels and pearls, they realize that one must bear the pain to have again. They learn the fact that without facing danger and without taking the risk, they can achieve nothing. The treasure is the reward for the danger, pain, hardships etc. faced by the children. After killing the witch, the children learn the social fact that everything can be done by co-operation. At the time of danger, one should use reason (mind) instead of passions.
The story has great cultural significance. The witch welcomes the children to eat them. The house gives shelter to the children but they can’t control their desires and eat the house which brings danger to them. The white bird which leads the children to the house of the witch is culturally the symbol of peace and kindness. The white duck which helps them to cross the river is the symbol of co-operation and selflessness. The expanse of water is the symbol of maturity. After crossing the river, the children reach a higher stage of development. They become economically strong. They are no longer the burden of the family. They become independent, wise, matured and happy.
Important Questions and Answers
1. Do you think greed leads to destruction?
Answer: Yes, I think greed leads to destruction. Greed makes everything corrupt. It leads everyone to the disaster. Here in this story of Hansel and Gretel, greed becomes the main cause behind the witch’s death. She traps the children because of her greedy nature. She wants to eat them. She shows her ill-treatment to the children. All her greedy acts have become the main cause of her deadly end. Greed only invites a dark future not the bright one.
2. Compare and contrast Hansel and Gretel by Bruno Bettelheim and Jack Zipes. (2070 Long)
Answer: Jack Zipes’s interprets this story in a Marxist point of view whereas Bruno Bettelheim interprets the folk-tale “Hansel and Gretel” showing various social and cultural meanings.
In the story of Jack Zipes, there are two classes as a higher class and a lower class. Jack describes the children and their parents as lower class and witch as upper class. The story reveals Marxist examples as – poverty makes people do a bad thing in society. E.g. – Hansel and Gretel were left in the dense forest. Due to bad economic status, woodcutter and his wife compel them to leave their children. This shows the compulsion of lower-class people. On the other hand witch’s act shows higher class people status. Rich people are greedy and bad. They oppress lower class people for their benefit. For e.g witch shows her greedy nature as well as bad behaviour to the children. Her prosperity can easily be examined through her house made out of sweets and jewels inside it. She entices the children for her profit. She shows her bad nature by imprisoning Hansel and Gretel. The revolt of the lower class can easily be noticed through Gretel’s clever act of killing witch. They take lots of jewels from the witch’s house to change their bad status.
Bruno’s story reveals the bitter truth that poverty, scarcity and hardships lead people towards selfishness, cruelty and bad deeds (bad works). The stepmother is cruel and selfish. Though the father loves the children, he can’t go against his wife. He feels guilty and his heart becomes heavy when he leaves the children in the dense forest. The children come back to the house though their parents are selfish. In our society also, the stepmothers are generally selfish, cruel and jealous. They usually hate their stepchildren and force their husbands to do whatever they want. However, the suffering and hardships make the children bold and mature. Facing many difficulties, they reach the house of the witch. They are tempted by the bread and sugar of the house. When they are welcomed by the witch, they become happy. But, when the witch plans to kill them, they realize the danger of greed and temptation. They learn that to be greedy is to invite risk. When the children kill the witch and return with jewels and pearls, they realize that one must bear the pain to have a gain. They learn the fact that without facing danger and without taking risks, they can achieve nothing. The treasure is the reward for the danger, pain, hardships etc faced by the children.
0 Comments