Analysis 1: Is Gambling Hansel for the People

Gambling Hansel is a story made for the people due to its use of themes that relate to things common people do and in some ways praising a quality commonly deemed inappropriate and classless. Gambling is the main action that is done in the story and its use describes a kind of person who is able to get what they want from any level of society. This emphasis is also approved by a god until the end of the tale. Even though god at the end of the tale does kill Hansel for his gambling behavior it is not until Hansel oversteps into trying to claim heaven that this actually occurs. In many ways, the gambling in the story is praised by god since Hansel gets his three wishes despite failing to give god food the first time and the wishes for gambling materials are not denied by god although it is unclear how much autonomy god has at all and if god could deny this request. Other stories similarly praise traits often seen as vile in the upper class but more acceptable in the lower class. Violence is extremely common in many fairy tales such as Hansel and Gretel where the witch is brutally murdered by Gretel and this is then praised by a safe return home and a happily ever after without the neglectful stepmother who was in the beginning of the story (Grimm & Grimm, 1993). This also relates to the idea of romanticism but takes a sharp diversion when we view romanticism in full and not just the idea of returning to the people (CdF, 2010). The emphasis on nature that is present in the romantic era is not something directly used by Gambling Hansel due to gambling being a human made concept and activity. Interestingly, there is also an abundance of primal feelings associated with gambling. By this logic, if you accept gambling as primal it is romantic but it discounts the fact that it is for the people and if you accept that gambling is a human concept than it becomes very Volkmarchen, but lacks an attachment to romantic ideals. There does live a middle ground where Gambling Hansel represents a pseudo-romantic pseudo-Volkmarchen tale where it is using gambling as a method to describe where gambling is primal and human at the same time and Volkmarchen despite it being primal. This is a very useful perspective to have as it shows people with their flaws and still praises them. Alternatively, it allows people to be "primal" while still being a valued and full person   CdF, A. (2010). From Folklore to Literature: The Märchen and the German Romantic Movement. Cabinet Des Fees. https://www.cabinetdesfees.com/2010/from-folklore-to-literature-the-marchen-and-the-german-romantic-movement/   Grimm, J., & Grimm, W. (1993). Grimm’s complete fairy tales. Barnes & Noble.