"Hansel and Gretel"

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the ancient German fairy tale, "Hansel and Gretel". The paper shows how, through cooperation and adherence to traditional gender roles, Hansel and Gretel outsmart and overcome evil forces. The paper discusses how the story reveals what the culture of that time expected the roles of men and women to be. Gretel is pious, kind and dependent, but intuitively clever when forced to rely on her own resources. Hansel is manly and protective, a leader who depends on logic. The paper explains how this story paints a picture of old German culture and customs.

From the Paper:

""Hansel and Gretel" is about two disadvantaged children whose parents lack both the moral and financial resources to care for them. The stress of poverty has presumably taken a great toll on their mother, who is abusive and determined to get rid of them. She calls her son a "fool" several times and blames the children for their own abandonment. Their father, although he loves his children, is weak and incompetent to resist his wife. The parents are negative examples of what "real" men and women should be."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Zipes, Jack. "Once There were Two Brothers Named Grimm," The Complete Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm,

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