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At the heart of any "Hansel and Gretel" story is the idea of the witch, who is always linked to the stepmother. In many ways, the fairy tale is about women. The father is controlled by the stepmother, the witch has a major role, and while Hansel does seem active in the beginning of the story, it is Gretel who saves Hansel at the end. In this story, the women are front and center. It is true that the character of the stepmother is notable in her non-physical presence, but the character of Bala se
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A twist to the tale of Hansel and Gretel, told from the perspective of the Old Woman/Witch they meet in the woods with the candy cottage, her history was that of a midwife who became a sorceress (one who by belief in God can command devil's) to save Peter, a nobleman's son, but tricked out of a magic circle she made, biting off a child's sixth finger as a midwife might and becomes a witch (one who is commanded by devils)- they command her to eat the babe, but she's set upon by villagers who accu
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I’m a bit disappointed that the witch here doesn’t have a previous history of eating kids - that Hansel and Gretel were her first kids after she had been tricked into becoming the witch we all know about from the original tale. But I’ve never read a story from her perspective before and that was pretty cool. I loved Gretel’s personality!
Rating: 4 of 5
Hansel and Gretel told through the Witch whose fatal flaw was hubris and also, perhaps, her devotion to both her daughter and God. Tragic from start to finish. And yet another fine example that maybe not all fairytale villains were truly evil. Quick must-read for fans of retellings.
Hansel and Gretel told through the Witch whose fatal flaw was hubris and also, perhaps, her devotion to both her daughter and God. Tragic from start to finish. And yet another fine example that maybe not all fairytale villains were truly evil. Quick must-read for fans of retellings.
Jul 10, 2009
Danielle The Book Huntress
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Beth
marked it as retelling-fairy-tales
Oct 22, 2019
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