ENGL 360 post #3

During this post, I would like to answer the fairy tale discussion prompt for Friday, 1-25, that we did not actually get to on Friday.

The two groups in which the conflict occurs are children and evil women. The first woman in their life (the mother figure) convinces their father to take the children into the forest and leave them. However, Hansel overhears the conversation and thus plans for an escape out of the forest. While this is not a direct confrontation, Hansel undermines the wife's authority by thinking one step ahead of her. At first, it appears he has won the conflict when the children return safely to their home. However, when they are taken out again, it appears as if they have lost the battle. The next conflict is between the children and the evil witch woman who wants to eat them. This time, it appears as if the woman is going to win, but the children ultimately prevail. Finally, the last unfinished conflict between the children and their stepmother is decided when the children return home, and the woman dies. Ultimately, the children are the winners in each conflict.

It is significant that the children won because it shows that children are capable of thinking for themselves. Children are typically thought of as dumber than adults, but I believe children have a different way of looking at things which can often work to their advantage. As we become more educated, we lose a certain amount of creativity as various teachers "teach" us how to think (while that may not be their goal - it will inevitably happen). Therefore, the truly creative and intelligent child could be seen to be quite cunning when the time called. I think Hansel and Gretel is a great way to show that children may sometimes out-think the adults. Also, it shows that the apparent underdogs can fight and become victorious. This was a good message for the vast majority of underprivileged children who would have been hearing the story (since these stories were originally intended for the children of the lower class). It taught them that they could come out on top.