Hansel and Gretel

                                                   -          Bruno Bettelheim

           

This essay tries to interpret the hidden meanings of Hansel and Gretel by Grimm Brothers with psychological point of view. It expects on the part of students that they have a good knowledge of western psychology.

            The story “Hansel and Gretel” begins realistically. It presents the message that poverty makes people selfish.

            The fairy tale also expresses the things that go on in children’s minds. The mother represents the source of all food to the children. So, they are worried when they know about their parents’ plan to abandon them. They return home after being deserted in the jungle for the first time because they desperately need their parents. The parents are not happy at the children’s successful return.

            The children are left in the forest the second time. They try to solve their problem, but they lose their ability to do so because of regression and denial of their parents. So, they concentrate themselves only on food while trying to solve their problem. The children act like hungry animals. They eat the gingerbread house which represents oral greediness, instead of using it for shelter.

            The gingerbread house is also a symbol for the mother. So, it gives food to the children.

            The story also tells us that excessive greed leads to the destruction. The children fall into the trap of the witch because of their greed. The witch wants to eat them. The children can come out of this danger only when they think and act reasonably.

            The witch is also a symbol of mother. At first, she provides the children with good food and care like a perfect mother. But when the children start showing maturity they feel dissatisfied. So, a child imagines his own mother as the witch of the story when she no longer serves him unquestioningly.

            The white dove in the story is the symbol of superior benevolent (kind, helpful and generous) power. Hansel claims to be looking at a white dove that is sitting on the roof wanting to say goodbye to him. The snow-white bird singing happily leads the children to the gingerbread house and then sits on its roof. Another white bird, the duck, helps the children to cross the big body of water and return to their house safely. So, the behaviour of the birds symbolizes that the entire adventure was arranged for the children’s benefit.

            The big body of water represents a transition, and a new beginning on a higher level of existence (as in baptism). After having crossed the water, the children arrive at the other shore as more mature children. They also cross it separately. It shows that a child should know about his or her personal uniqueness. S/he cannot share everything with others.

            At the end of the story, the inner attitudes of the characters are changed. When Hansel and Gretel return home, they have grown up. They can now help their father. The jewels are the symbol of their help.
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