'Hansel and Gretel' Archetype Analysis

Hansel and Gretel by Brothers Grimm is a very well known fairytale that is entertaining, but also teaches many lessons from both of the protagonists experiences. There are several archetypes presented throughout the popular fairytale. Lessons that are clearly portrayed in the story are not be greedy and take things for granted, another lesson could be to be careful of who you trust, and your first instinct is not always true.

The story starts off with the reader being introduced to the forest immediately, which can be symbolized as evil, lost and fear. This indicates that at some point in the story there will be an interaction with evil and conflict will occur. Hansel and Gretel are the children of a poor wood-cutter that lives near the forest. Not being able to provide for his family, the father of the children vents to his wife about the unfortunate issue to somehow find an answer. The wife responds negatively by suggesting to get rid of the children by abandoning them in the forest nearby expecting them to not find their way back. Disagreeing with the wife’s plan, the wood-cutter argues with her about not leaving his children in the forest alone. Hansel and Gretel had overheard the two discussing the plan while the father had finally gave in to the evil step mothers plan.

The father is presented as being wise and gentle which can be compared to a king that is a character in many fairytale’s. Hansel is shown as brave and courageous, while Gretel is innocent and worried which can be compared to a prince and princess. The step mother however does not have good traits, but rather bad ones like being selfish and greedy.

Hansel being less afraid then Gretel comforts her and informs her “find a way to help [them]”. Preparing himself for what was to happen the next morning, Hansel left the house after the old folks had fallen asleep. He gathered up as many white pebbles as he could, which lay in front of the house and returned back to bed. The initiation occurs when the stepmother leads the children into the forest and abandons them while they rest by the fire. Fire can be classified as an archetype since it symbolizes control, god and love. While traveling to the forest Hansel made a trail of pebbles which helped the two siblings escape and return home. Hansel comforted Gretel and told her to wait for the moon to rise which can symbolize guidance.The road of trial is introduced when Hansel and Gretel are unable to escape the forest for the second time in result of the trail being made with bread which was eaten by the birds. The children would always be woken when it was dark which represents chaos, mystery, and the unknown. While wandering the unfamiliar forest they had encountered a white bird that they had followed until they reached a little house. The bird being white can be distinguished as an archetype because it symbolizes innocence, goodness and purity, but the children were yet to learn that the bird was none of those things, but rather the opposite. Being attracted to the house made of bread and cakes like any child would be, Hansel and Gretel began to eat, letting their hunger get the best of them. Being invited in by the witch that was pretending to be a kind lady, the children did not think anything of it and helped themselves to the all the food she had offered them. This is when Hansel and Gretel encounter the innermost cave being trapped in the wicked witches house.“Witches have red eyes, and cannot see far”, red represents violent passion, and death. Gretel fooling the witch to enter the oven and being killed, allows her to escape with Hansel. Leaving the forest with some of the witches jewels and pearls, the siblings come across a stretch of water which is an archetype, symbolizing life force. Hansel and Gretel were crossed safely on a white duck which indicated purity and peace. Return and reintegration occurs for Hansel and Gretel when they arrive back home to their father and realizing that the women was dead. Having the jewels and pearls from the witches house assured the family of three to live in happiness.
Throughout this fairytale many symbols and archetypes were presented, along with the plot being a battle between good and evil. Hansel and Gretel against the wicked witch and the evil step mother. At the end of the fairytale both of the characters that represented evil had died an the characters that symbolized good lived happily ever after.