Hansel and Gretel: Psychological Interpretation

Bruno Bettelheim

1 What role do the birds have in the story? What do they symbolize?

The birds symbolize the difficulties of the world the children need to face outside home. Some birds eat the pieces of bread Hansel has dropped on the way to the forest. As a result, the children cannot come back home. They are forced to find their own way. Another bird takes them to the house of the witch who nearly kills them. It symbolizes the dangers the children must face to gain their reward. Another bird helps them cross water. But it takes them one at a time. It suggests they must now learn to live separately.

2 What does the expanse of water symbolize in the story?

The expanse of water in the story symbolizes a new beginning. It suggests a new stage in course of a child’s development. Until now Hansel and Gretel have not separated. While crossing the water, the duck separates them as it carries only one child at a time. It means they cannot share everything. They must learn to live separately. After crossing the water, they turn into mature individuals who should be independent.

3 What is the hidden/symbolic meaning in “Hansel and Gretel”?

OR, Interpret “Hansel and Gretel” from psychological point of view.

Bruno Bettelheim explores the hidden meanings of the story “Hansel and Gretel” by interpreting several symbols. He relates the story with psychological development and maturity of children. He says it is about the things that go in children’s mind. 

For children, mother is the source of all food. When they grow up, they must learn to live separately from their mother. This is symbolized by the mother planning to leave them in the forest. But they return home because they feel they are not old enough to live apart from their mother. When they are left in the forest the second time, they act like animals. They eat the house instead of using it as shelter. The house is also a symbol of mother because mother gives food to the children. 

Unless the children think and act like human beings, they cannot escape from the witch. She catches them eating the house like hungry animals. She traps them as we trap animals. Her treatment forces them to think of tricks. Only then they manage to save themselves.

The expanse of water in the story symbolizes a new beginning. It suggests a new stage in course of a child’s development. Until now Hansel and Gretel have not separated. While crossing the water, the duck separates them as it carries only one child at a time. It means they cannot share everything. They must learn to live separately. After crossing the water, they turn into mature individuals who should be independent. When Hansel and Gretel reach home, they have grown up. They can help their father. The help is symbolized by the jewels they bring.

4 Compare and contrast “Hansel and Gretel” by Bruno Bettelheim and Jack Zipes.

Bruno Bettelheim explores the hidden, symbolic meaning of “Hansel and Gretel” from psychological point of view. But Jack Zipes interprets the story from Marxist point of view. Bettelheim relates the story with psychological development and maturity of children. They should learn to live apart from the mother as they grow up. But Jack Zipes calls it a political story showing the class conflict between the haves and have-nots. The children represent poor people and the witch represents feudal lords. The children’s fight against the witch represents the conflict between haves and have-nots. The killing of the witch represents the hopes of the poor about the end of feudal system.