The Lost Children: Hansel And Wilhelm Grimm

The Lost Children

Hansel and Gretel by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm is a story about two siblings, with the odds of the world constantly against them, prevailing in the end by blinded faith in God and each other. After being abandoned twice by their family, kidnapped by a wicked witch, and lost in the woods in search of their home, the two siblings always believed God would always keep them safe. Their trust, love, and faith in each other is the ultimate factor in successfully and safely staying alive.


 Hansel and Gretel is a story of two siblings born to a poor woodcutter and a step-mother. After the famine destroyed the entire country, almost everyone was left starving and in search for food to barely get them by. In Hansel and Gretel’s

family, they most likely often went days without a crumb of bread. After endless days of starvation, their step-mother suggested to their father that they take the children out to the woods. She thought she would set them up with food and warmth for a night, but essentially leaving them to the wild woods to die. The step-mother, having no care or love for her step-children, was more concerned about feeding herself and her husband then putting the needs of the kids first. The father was at first appalled to the idea, but later caved into his wife’s plan. Hansel and Gretel, who were both still awake, heard their step-mother’s entire plan. Gretel was understandably scared. Hansel told her “Be quiet Gretel. Don’t get upset. I’ll soon find a way to help us.” (page 711)

The next morning, the family made their way out to the woods. Along the trail there, Hansel discretely dropped pebbles that he had gathered the night before in order for him and his sister to find their way back home. Their father and step-mother left them with a loaf of bread each and said they would come back to fetch the siblings after they chopped some more firewood. Hansel and Gretel took a nap until the moon had risen and the moonlight could guide them home. After making the journey back, a shocked father and step-mother welcomed the children home. The father “was delighted because he had been deeply troubled by the way he had abandoned them in the forest.” (page 713)

Not long after arriving home, the entire country was emaciated by the famine.

Starvation was a near daily routine for Hansel and Gretel’s family again. The step-mother instructed the father that once more they could not afford to keep the children. She suggested that they take them further out into the woods a second time and they will be sure that the siblings cannot find a way back home. Although the father disagreed with the step-mother he knew that “whoever starts something must go on with it, and since he had given in the first time, he also had to yield a second time.” (page 713) The children were awake still and overheard the conversation. Hansel had decided he would re-create the plan he had last time, but his idea was quickly brought to a stop when his step-mother had locked the doors to the house. She was suspicious of what plans the children might have that would deviate her own plan in motion. A worried Gretel was reassured by her brother. Hansel told her “the dear Lord is bound to help us.” (page

713)

When morning came, Hansel and Gretel were given a loaf of bread each, this time is was much smaller than the last.

Since Hansel didn’t have the pebbles to leave on the trail, he took his loaf and left it as crumbs to lead them home. They were left again by the parents and fell asleep until night. When the moon would rise, they would rise as well to see the breadcrumbs lit up by the moonlight. As the siblings made their way home, they quickly realized that the crumbs were eaten by the birds and other wood animals while they were sleeping. Hansel again reassured his worried sister that “we’ll find the way.” (page 714) Unfortunately, they didn’t find their way. Instead, they walked all day and all in night in search of a safe shelter. After a few days of walking, the siblings finally “at noon, they saw a beautiful bird as white as snow sitting on a branch.” (page 714) Hansel and Gretel stopped and listened to the bird sing and followed it as it traveled to a little house made of bread. They quickly began eating the different parts of the house. Quickly after they started rummaging the house, an older woman appears at the door and invites the children in. After feeding them more food and letting them have a comfortable nights rest, the older woman revealed herself to be a wicked witch. She told the siblings of her plan to fatten them up and then eat them. First up, Hansel, she put him in a cage-like wooden box outside and would continuously feed him tons and tons of food.

Hansel was always told by the witch, “stick out your finger so I can feel how fat you are.” (page 715) She was puzzled that after days and days, he hadn’t changed. What she didn’t know is that Hansel tricked her by putting out a bone and acting like it was his finger. The witch didn’t know the difference as her eye sight was terribly bad.

After the witch decided Hansel would take too long, she hitched a plan to bake Gretel. She tried to trick Gretel to get into the oven to see if it was heated enough. Gretel had a gut feeling of what the witch was up to and told her she didn’t know what to do or how to get in. The witch yelled at Gretel saying, “you stupid goose, the opening’s large enough. Watch, even I can get in!”. (page 715) As soon as the witch was far enough in the oven, Gretel slammed the oven door shut and the witch was never seen again. Gretel quickly ran outside to save her brother. After reuniting, they went back inside the witch’s house and found chests filled with pearls and jewels.