Response #2

I found it interesting while reading the essay on Hansel and Gretel in The Classic Fairy Tales that these stories were primarily written as a sort of fantastical take on what was really occurring in pre-modern times. If I had to envision the world in which a story like Hansel and Gretel would arise, I would first take into account that these were times when the lower class families really did struggle for food and other things needed for basic survival. Therefore, it would be very evident in the film that the characters were of a lower class and were not living in comfort. I think that the main characters of the film would have to be the children, and it would be best if they inhabited a world where much of what they learned they got from being vigilant and incredibly tactful. I would imagine that in order to survive, these children would have to grow up quickly and stay completely aware of their situation so that they could be one step ahead of those who would attempt to do them harm. The adults in this world would be seen as most of the secondary characters, and they would be seen as full of worry for the well being of them and their family. It would have to be a world where the adults were so caught up in their own affairs that they did not realize that their children were intelligent and capable people.
All of these worries about food and simply surviving day by day would be a good foundation for the story of Hansel and Gretel. As the tensions build up within a family, thoughts become more and more irrational, which could lead to actions that might not have been taken in a more stable atmosphere.