A Tale Dark and Grimm

These closing chapters bring Hansel and Gretel back together and reunite them with their parents, forcing them to look at the choices they’ve made since running away. They initially left because their parents cut off their heads; their running away felt like a reasonable decision at the time, but having learned the motive behind their parents’ actions, they no longer feel completely justified, especially since they were restored to life. They question how they feel about their parents, only realizing what they deprived their family of when believing their father is lost for good. Their father’s perceived death shows their transformed perspective. Until now, Hansel and Gretel thought being beheaded was the worst thing their parents could do to them; thinking their father is dead makes them realize that the worst thing would be losing their parents forever.

While the first six chapters draw from specific Grimm fairy tales, the final three build off of these tales to forge their own divergent path. Through their ordeals, Hansel and Gretel grow and turn into the heroic characters who stop the dragon and reunite their family. Gidwitz shows just how much they’ve changed when they tell their parents they’ll handle the dragon because they have more experience with outsmarting malevolent creatures. This symbolizes how children naturally grow out from under their parents, exploring the theme of Growing Up and Responsibility. Though they are uncertain of exactly what to do, Hansel and Gretel have lived enough life and survived enough adversity that they are confident they can come up with a plan and execute it.

Chapter 8 shows Hansel and Gretel putting their plan into motion and learning the difficult lesson that not everything goes according to plan. They don’t yet know that the dragon is inhabiting their father, and initially believe their plan was childish and doomed to fail. Seeing the people who trusted them die puts things in perspective. The dragon is a greater threat than any they faced in the past, either together or alone. Deciding to bring the wine last-minute foreshadows how their father is the dragon. Hansel and Gretel don’t tell their parents about the wine. Thus, the dragon doesn’t know about it and is tricked.

The final chapter brings the story full circle, offering symmetry with Chapter 1. In order to repent for wronging Johannes, Hansel and Gretel’s parents behead their children. In Chapter 9, Hansel and Gretel behead their father, only to learn their father isn’t at fault for his actions—rather, the dragon that has overtaken him is responsible. The narrative again emphasizes the value of cleverness: Gretel uses the magic twine she obtained to restore her father’s head to his body.

Even then, only forgiving their father allows him to be alive once more, showing the novel’s emphasis on love. As in Chapter 1, the truth is hidden, this time from the queen, and revealed only after the terrible deeds are done. The queen answers based on the limited information she has, as one does in real life.

The book ends with the king and queen giving their crowns to Hansel and Gretel. This reflects how Hansel and Gretel have grown responsible enough to rule the kingdom. It also shows how, in the world of the novel, a child’s perspective is valued. In real life, leading is left to adults, and children are often dismissed for having overly simplistic or unattainable ideas. In the book, age is not a deciding factor as to whether a person’s understanding is sufficient to make decisions. A younger person who has experienced more of the world may be more equipped to lead and decide than an older person who has had far fewer experiences outside their comfort zone. In Chapter 7, Hansel and Gretel are dismissed because they are young, but by the end of the book, their parents understand that their unique lived experiences make them more equipped to lead and care for the kingdom.