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Hansel and Gretel: Summary | Jack Zipes Class 12
Hansel and Gretel by Jack Zipes
MAIN SUMMARY
Hansel and Gretel by Jack Zipes
This text, "Hansel and Gretel" by Jack Zipes, is an interpreting text. Jack Zipes has interpreted the fairy tale of Hansel and Gretel from a Marxist point of view. According to Marxist theory, in every society, there are two classes. For example, upper class and lower class.
This theory states that there is always a conflict between these two classes. In this conflict, there is always the victory of the lower class over the upper class at the end.
DURING THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY
During the 18th century, there were two classes in every society: the upper class and the lower class. During that period, there was the concept of feudalism. The upper-class rich people were feudalists, whereas the lower-class people were laymen.
The feudalists were so greedy by nature. They used to suppress lower-class people a lot. They used to torture the laymen for their profits.
Due to extreme poverty, lower-class people used to commit misdeeds in society. theft, murder, prostitution, etc. The upper-class people had accumulated a lot of property in their lives, whereas laymen had problems with daily meals. Due to all these things, as well as famine, people wanted to change feudalism into capitalism at the end of the 18th century. The ideology of feudalism was proven to be wrong. Lower-class people were ready to struggle against upper-class people. All the lower-class people hoped for a bright future in capitalism. In that struggle against upper-class people, they got the victory at last. The poor family had changed their lifestyle from extreme poverty to richness.
THE STORY OF HANSEL AND GRETEL IN RELATION TO MARXIST THEORY
Just as in the 18th century, there are also two classes here in this story of Hansel and Gretel. The woodcutter's family is lower-class, whereas the witch herself is upper-class. Woodcutter's economic status is quite bad here in this story, just like the laymen of the 18th century. He is also unable to feed his family members properly. The witch has been seen as so prosperous in the story, just like the feudalists of the 18th century. Her house is made of different sweet items, which are packed with pieces of jewellery.
In this story, due to extreme poverty as well as famine, Woodcutter and his wife have committed the misdeed of deserting their kids in the dense part of the jungle. Just as the famine of the 18th century has presented the compulsions of lower-class people in the story,.
According to the Marxist theory, rich people are greedy and so bad by nature. They oppress the lower-class people for their own benefit. Here in this story, the witch has shown her greedy nature as well as bad behaviour towards the poor children. Her greedy intention to eat Hansel has been seen in the story.
In this story, due to extreme poverty as well as famine, Woodcutter and his wife have committed the misdeed of deserting their kids in the dense part of the jungle. Just as the famine of the 18th century has presented the compulsions of lower-class people in the story, according to the Marxist theory, rich people are greedy and so bad by nature. They oppress the lower-class people for their own benefit. Here in this story, the witch has shown her greedy nature as well as bad behaviour towards the poor children. Her greedy intention to eat Hansel has been seen in the story. She has enticed the kids for her benefit.
Her bad behaviour has been seen through her acts of imprisoning Hansel in the shed and compelling Gretel to do household tasks. Just as the revolt of laymen during the 18th century, the revolt of Hansel and Gretel has also been seen against witches due to her extreme torture. They have killed the witch at last and also taken a lot of jewellery from her house. Taking pieces of jewellery from the witch's house is one of the best examples of the transition phase from feudalism to early capitalism. According to the prediction of Karl Marx, laymen can also go against upper-class people for their own benefit.
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