In the classic tale of “Hansel and Gretel”,
food serves a very symbolic role. It is the lack of food that is used as the
primary justification and catalyst for the abandonment of the children.
The
children’s hunger from their lack of enough food keeps them up at night, which
also inadvertently saves them, as they overhear their evil stepmother’s
persistent campaign to rid the family of the children which she sees a terrible
burden.
Food is again a crucial savior for the
children as it sustains them while they are left lost and deserted in the
forest. Hansel uses his small portion of breadcrumbs as a tool to aide in their
survival, while his sister lovingly shares her portion with him, providing them
both with nourishment.
Food becomes an attractive and dangerous
seducer, as the children are attracted to the witch’s edible house (an obviously
baited trap) and enticed into the old witch’s home by the lure of having their
desires for food fulfilled. The witch also uses food sadistically as a method
of torture, feeding Hansel in an effort to fatten him up so he could become
food for her later.
In conclusion, food was used as many different
things within the story of Hansel and Gretel, it was a catalyst, a protector, a
seducer and an abuser. It divided a family (when the children were abandoned),
yet it also helped to bring the two young siblings closer together, as well as
reunite them with their father. Food was used to keep the children alive, but
it also almost killed them.
References:
Grimm, Brothers. “Hansel
and Gretel”, the first edition and the final edition, 1812 and 1856 respectively.
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