Hansel And Gretel Duet Literary Analysis

As humans face new challenges in life, their childish beliefs are often replaced by a more sophisticated understanding of the world. In the tale “Hansel and Gretel,” two siblings are abandoned deep in a forest, and the bond they develop in such a forlorn setting gives insight about their individual growth. Hansel and Gretel’s reciprocal relationship in Brothers’ Grimm version highlights their maturation, implying that adulthood is a beneficial, liberating force; in Nan Fry’s “Hansel and Gretel Duet,” however, the siblings dependence on one another suggests that maturity restricts personal freedom.

In Brothers’ Grimm version, Hansel and Gretel’s mutual initiative to return home safely implies that the transition from childhood to adulthood is necessary in order to obtain freedom. When first led into the woods, Hansel takes charge, telling his sister, “do not distress yourself, I will soon find a way to help us” before collecting pebbles to mark a path back home. Afterwards, Gretel assumes responsibility as she outsmarts the witch

and devises a plan to cross the water that separated them from their home. Both children undertake parental roles, using intuition rather than foolish assumptions to solve problems. Without Hansel’s leadership, Gretel would have been helpless and vice versa. Their efforts earn them financial independence and freedom from the cruelty of both the witch and their stepmother.
On the contrary, Nan Fry portrays Hansel and Gretel’s shared reliance in a very negative light; their ambitions hint that maturation restricts personal development.

Gretel’s actions to help free Hansel from the witch’s torment involved “comforting [Hansel]... whispering words of encouragement” and tending to his nourishment. Gretel transcends her young age, becoming a motherly figure looking after Hansel, a child. Unlike in the Brothers’ Grimm version, this maturation has an adverse effect on Hansel as he “was ready to fly, but [Gretel] pulled [him] into the witch’s house.” By progressing into adulthood, Gretel traps herself in a cycle of oppression; she has become an evil force similar to the witch, restricting Hansel’s ability to “fly” or be independent. Rather than live happily with their father like in the Brothers’ Grimm version, the family is destined for despair since Gretel’s maturity prevents them from moving on from their

past.
The Brothers’ Grimm present Hansel and Gretel’s interconnected relationship as a symbol for wisdom and adulthood, indicating that maturation fosters personal prosperity, while Fry depicts a loss of innocence as oppressive. The siblings initiatives were mutually beneficial in the Grimm version, a stark contrast to the confining consequences of Gretel’s development.