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îñ"ò îøëæ ñéôåøé òí åôåì÷ìåø |
C. F. F |
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Folktales Thoughts about
Hansel and Gretel Gretel took the
bread under her apron, as Hansel had the pebbles in his pocket. Then they all set out together on the way
to the forest. When they had walked a short time, Hansel stood still and peeped
back at the house, and did so again and again. His father said, Hansel, what are you
looking at there and staying behind for. Pay attention, and do not forget
how to use your legs... Hansel, however, had not been looking back
at the cat, but had been constantly throwing one of the white pebble-stones
out of his pocket on the road...
Between other things this story says something about searching a way.
In the beginning of the story Hansel is throwing pebble-stones to mark
the way. He does not look at the road itself, he only tries to put signs. He
“peeped back at the house” – he is living in his past, he has not
enough courage to look forward to the unknown. He does not understand his
father words: “Pay attention, and do not forget how to use your legs” And when the full moon had risen, Hansel
took his little sister by the hand, and followed the pebbles which shone
like newly-coined silver pieces, and showed them the way... First time it works. They used
pebble-stones – some thing solid to mark the way, but next time they
try to keep the old success, but they use something very delicate,
crumbs of bread. In your inner way you begin with something coarse,
but little by little you have to measure with more and more delicate sides of
your life – bread crumbs instead of stones – and for this you need
another tool, another way of looking at life, not building on the past but
confronting the present changing situations Hansel again got up, and wanted to go
out and pick up pebbles as he had done before, but the woman had
locked the door, and Hansel could not get out. Nevertheless he
comforted his little sister, and said, do not cry, Gretel, go to
sleep quietly, the good God will help us...On the way into the forest
Hansel crumbled his in his pocket, and often stood still and threw a morsel
on the ground...When the moon came they set out, but they found no crumbs,
for the many thousands of birds which fly about in the woods and fields
had picked them all up The birds seem to be their enemies. They
eat their marks. But birds are birds, this is their nature. You
cannot blame them – one should understand the nature of the world. “Go to
sleep quietly, the good God will help us” - They gave up, they went to sleep
hoping God would help them. It’s ok to trust God but you cannot
stay passive. God helps those who help
themselves. You must have a new initiative, using a really new way
if you want to get out of your forest. And as they had no longer any need
to fear her, they went into the witch's house, and in every corner there
stood chests full of pearls and jewels.
These are far better than pebbles. Said Hansel, and thrust into
his pockets whatever could be got in, and Gretel said, I, too, will take
something home with me, and filled her pinafore full. But now we must be off, said Hansel that we
may get out of the witch's forest. When they had walked for two hours, they
came to a great stretch of water.
We cannot cross, said Hansel, I see no foot-plank, and no bridge. And there is also no ferry, answered
Gretel, but a white duck is swimming there.
If I ask her, she will help us over.
Then she cried - little duck, little duck, dost thou see, Hansel and
Gretel are waiting for thee. There's never a plank, or bridge in sight, take
us across on thy back so white. The duck came to them, and Hansel seated
himself on its back, and told his sister to sit by him. No, replied Gretel,
that will be too heavy for the little duck. She shall take us across, one
after the other. The good little duck
did so, and when they were once safely across and had walked for a short
time, the forest seemed to be more and more familiar to them, and at
length they saw from afar their father's house. This time they do not use the stones as
marks. On the contrary, it is the good delicate stones – stones of life
experience - that they bring home. They look on the way with open eyes and
now “the forest seemed to be more and more familiar to them”. They ask help
from a bird, a duck. They understand now something about the nature of birds
– how much weight it can carry, they use this understanding wisely and
get home safe. I used E-text
of Hansel and Gretel from Grimm's Fairy Tales Based on the
translation by Margaret Hunt called Grimm's Household Tales |
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