Hansel and Gretel: An Analysis

TWO GIANTS OF THE PUBLISHING WORLD . . .

One of the biggest buzz books of the fall publishing season is a retelling of Hansel and Gretel written by none other than Stephen King. Yes, the Stephen King, one of the best-selling authors of all time. Art is by the Maurice Sendak, who has earned a place in the top pantheon of children’s book illustrators. The collaboration was based on the late illustrator’s scenery and costume designs for a staging of the classic opera by Humperdink. I don’t know if the Sendak version of the opera was ever produced, but the concept drawings aren’t going to waste. Does it work?

. . . ONE CHILLING STORY

It may seem odd that a writer of such horror classics as The Shining is taking a stab at a children’s fairy tale, but not so odd when considering the tale. Hansel and Gretel is one of the most disturbing stories collected by the Brothers Grimm, with deep roots in the reality of abandoned children during times of famine. A “great dark forest” surrounds the narrative played out by a heartless stepmother, a weak and pliable father, and a deceitful witch who lures hungry children with sugary delights in order to eat them. The happy ending is accompanied by blood-curdling screams from the oven, where the witch gets her just deserts. (As opposed to unjust dessert.)

And yet, like all classic stories, this one preserves echoes of the gospel. The Fall has made creation a fearing and fearful place filled with shrunken souls. A conniving stepmother plans to offload helpless children to save herself, while cynically assuring her husband that “God will take care of them.” But in spite of her intentions, God does take care of them: He sends angels to stand guard, provides them with native wit and courage, and pours riches into their pockets (while the villain burns in hell).

AN UNEVEN RESULT

This version of the story has some outstanding literary qualities and striking illustrations by a man whose art is described by the author as “sunny on top and dark inside.” The darkness theme is reiterated five times in double-page spreads of twisted roots, overhanging branches and skull-like rock formations.

Otherwise, the artwork is oddly uneven. The two main characters are never presented the same way: on the cover illustration they appear very young, no older than six. Elsewhere they look much older, around age twelve or even early teen. Some pages are lush and beautiful; others hasty. In his prologue King recalls being grabbed by the illustration of the witch riding through the night on her broomstick with a sack of screaming children on her back. It’s a grabby picture all right, but which one? The book contains two, each depicting Hansel’s nightmare. Just one would have been more effective. The witch’s candy house is appropriately ghastly, but why does it look as if it were composed mainly of vegetables? (Hansel and Gretel were hungry enough to be tempted by turnips, but the audience for this book won’t relate.)

Angels are a recurring motif, but what to make of the next-to-last page spread depicting a child’s face, gently smiling, with wavy yellow hair representing sunbeams? It’s at least reassuring and might have been a better way to end than the last They-lived-happily-ever-after page, where the stylized sun looks more like an egg. Maybe two sunny pictures help balance all the darkness?

I don’t know if Sendak would have been happy with this but personally I wish he could have signed off on a finished book. On the other hand, the text is lovely: economical but not terse, sympathetic but not gushy. Also, and this is important, traditional not “updated.” In the prologue Stephen King touchingly relates his first exposure to Sendak, as a young dad navigating parenthood with his wife Tabitha. All three of his children responded to Sendak books in their own ways and distinct personalities.

On the other hand, there’s the Stephen King of left-wing social media who expresses disdain for at least half his audience. It’s hard to forget that guy, who recently tweeted out a false claim about something Charlie Kirk said (and apologized when it was pointed out to him, so kudos for that). At Redeemed Reader, we routinely encounter authors and artists whose opinions and lifestyles run counter to biblical truth. And yet – sometimes, by God’s common grace, they perceive truth in the folds of reality and reflect it with beauty and power.

None of which means you should or shouldn’t check out Hansel and Gretel, but use discernment about your children’s sensitivities. Most fairy tales have grim (not to mention Grimm) roots and reflect earlier, darker times in human history. But redemption always draws near. Note in particular the third-from-last double-page spread, where the two children sleep peacefully in an idealized landscape where the earth yields its plenty, and foxes lie down with rabbits, predator with prey. That one picture is almost worth the price of the book.

Related Reading:

• Reflection: G. K. Chesterton had a lot to say about fairy tales that our age is ignoring; see “The Invasion of Fairyland.”
• Resource: Fairy and Folk Tales: A Picture Book List.

You may purchase Hansel and Gretel from Amazon.