Hansel And Gretel Literary Analysis

Hansel and Gretel: A Literary Criticism “Hansel and Gretel” is a children’s fairytale that has been passed down through generations for centuries. It has been relayed by many people, however the most popular version is by the Grimm Brothers. This story is a representation of the social and economic issues the people of the time period were plagued with. After analyzing the story and reviewing the different types of literary theory, it can be said that the Marxist theory is the most logical one when applied to the story. “Hansel and Gretel” takes place during a period of hardship when food was scarce, which inevitably led to an economic downfall. Hansel and Gretel live with their stepmother and father, who is a woodcutter. Their father does not earn very much from his occupation and is struggling to feed his family. One day the stepmother convinces the father to take them into the woods and leave
Almost immediately after meeting the witch Hansel is fate is to be eaten. He does not accept this and tries everything in his power to overturn it. Similarly, Gretel decides to take matters into her own hands and save her brother as well as herself. The revolution is finally won by the lower class, when Gretel tricks the witch into getting into the oven. Metaphorically, as the witch dies in the oven, so does capitalism and the class system. When the children return to their father with riches from the witch, balance is restored and the lower class can finally join the upper class and they can thrive and flourish as one. In conclusion, there are many facets of Hansel and Gretel that are over looked and misunderstood by readers. By using the Marxist theory to delve into the true meaning behind the fairytale, one can easily comprehend it in its entirety. The story is a delightful expose of the life of the time period it was written and allows its readers to be entertained as well as