Hansel and Gretel

Hansel and Gretel 
                                                                                                        – Jack Zipes

 Jack Zipes study the story of “Hansel and Gretel” in Marxist point of view. According to Carl Max, there are always two classes in the society: the higher class and the working class. The higher class (bourgeoisie) always dominates the working people so that there’s always struggle between the classes. And the working class always revolts against the higher class. Zipes presents the story as the story of hope and victory. 

The ‘struggle’ of the children with the witch is the struggle against high class people whose house is filled with various foods when there is not any food in the house of the poor. The children return back to their home with pearls killing the witch that is the rewards for them to end their poverty.

The woodcutter is very simple and represents ordinary people of working class. He is forced to leave his children in the jungle because of the lack if food. At the end of 18th century, the feudal system was breaking down. The witch represents the feudal system, the greed and the brutality of the high-class group. The killing of the witch symbolizes the hatred of working class towards their oppressors. The children do not show any hatred towards their step-mother, because they are aware of the fact that their society has enforced the system of which they are the victims.

The story reveals the structure of the society, and makes the common people aware of the fact. It also teaches them the process to fight against their oppressors and find out the methods to survive in the society.