Too Many Mouths To Feed
Before the world had Maury Povich and Jenny Jones to tell it about parents that abandoned their children, it had the story of Hansel and Gretel.
Where are they from, these people? Certainly some far off place, right? Or at least a time that was way back when. But what did they live in? A cottage? A hovel? A house like ours?
Click to See Views of Hansel & Gretel
So who are these kids that their parents could so easily lock them out of their lives. Are they cute? Are they ordinary? Do they look like us?
What was it like to be lefr alone in the woods? Does the forest rise dark and imposing around them? Is there any beauty in it? What if Hansel and Grelel look comfortable in these surroundings? Has the artist alteted the tale to protect children?
Click to See Views of the Children in the Woods
And what about that bird--that white dove or pigeon or whatever--that leads them to shelter and sustenance. Is it providential or is it evil? Is it neither or is it both? What do you make of a house of sweets inhabited by a witch? And this witch, what's she like? A stereotypical crone? A bent old woman? Is she heavy set or is she slight? Are there signs of witchcraft around her or does she seem like an ordinary woman? Which is scarier? Should the reader fear her? Pity her? Hate her?
Click to See Views of the Witch
Does the artist help us with those emoions in the oven scene? How much of the witch's person do we see as Gretel pushes her into the fire? Does it happen "off canera" or are we right there? Is the view objective or subjective, that is, do we see the scene from outside or from the persoective of one of the characters?
Click to see Views of the Oven Scene
Click to see Views of the Endings
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