Keene's version presented a dark, empty and harsh world during the time of witch-burning. There was also a clash between christian and pagan beliefs and a mix of irrational gender associations. I think his version of 'Hansel and Gretel' would be in the same setting, but just next to woods... obviously.
He also played to the psychological coherence of the story with complex characters, etc. In the case of this story I believe he would portray the era in a time of severe famine since fairy tales tend to adhere to that sort of genre of wish-fulfillment. Child anxiety of abandonment and starvation, therefore leading to thoughts of cannibalism, would certainly come into play. The reading in Tatar mentions "unrestrained giving in to gluttony," "cannibalistic inclinations," and "oral greediness," which could all play a part in Keene's dark world deeply rooted in child anxiety, fear and famine. The setting should be simple in itself (rural, next to the forsaken woods, etc.) while supplying a platform for the development of the complex characters of Hansel and Gretel.
I also picture Keene placing Hansel and Gretel in their early teenage years right when they are starting to explore themselves. This way she could twist it into some sort of awkward incest non sense in the woods, perhaps touching on cannibalism and gender inequalities. So possibly the children go into the woods twice, once to explore and once to be caught.
Keene's mellow demure also makes me question if the witch would die by being shoved into the stove or if would happen more calmly. Possibly the children could trick her into poisoning herself while she is making the stew to cook them in.
I assume Keene would have the step mother run the children into the woods by telling them their father no longer loved them. Also, if the town was in some sort of depression I feel the witch's house in the wood would be very lavish compared to their home they just left.
And if this is supposed to a depiction of the real life events that result in the tale of Hansel and Gretel, like with Keene's Juniper Tree, I think the ending needs to be drastically different than the conventional story that we all know. I think Hansel and Gretel should not cleverly escape the witch and end up being eaten. Perhaps one sibling could survive?
Also, I was thinking that perhaps the way that Hansel and Gretel find their way home the first time would be different. Maybe instead of using pebbles they are able to use the stars to guide them. The second night when they try to use the stars it is cloudy or something so that do not have anything to guide them. The reading suggested that the characters show wisdom in what they do the first time , but the second time they foolishly use bread instead of trying to remember landmarks. Perhaps in Keene's version of Hansel and Gretel the circumstances for their inability to show wisdom will be out of their control (i.e.. clouds blocking the stars)
Also, Keene would probably introduce a class or cultural struggle between the characters. The father and mother could make the children work for a wealthy widow (possible witch-figure) in order to make money for the family to live on. But since they despise the horrible widow, they run away. To put a "Keene twist" on denouement the mother could have died from starvation by the time they reach home, but the children have enough money to survive on meager funds.
(The "I" should be taken collectively, as it represents the views of the group.)
And if this is supposed to a depiction of the real life events that result in the tale of Hansel and Gretel, like with Keene's Juniper Tree, I think the ending needs to be drastically different than the conventional story that we all know. I think Hansel and Gretel should not cleverly escape the witch and end up being eaten. Perhaps one sibling could survive?
Also, I was thinking that perhaps the way that Hansel and Gretel find their way home the first time would be different. Maybe instead of using pebbles they are able to use the stars to guide them. The second night when they try to use the stars it is cloudy or something so that do not have anything to guide them. The reading suggested that the characters show wisdom in what they do the first time , but the second time they foolishly use bread instead of trying to remember landmarks. Perhaps in Keene's version of Hansel and Gretel the circumstances for their inability to show wisdom will be out of their control (i.e.. clouds blocking the stars)
Also, Keene would probably introduce a class or cultural struggle between the characters. The father and mother could make the children work for a wealthy widow (possible witch-figure) in order to make money for the family to live on. But since they despise the horrible widow, they run away. To put a "Keene twist" on denouement the mother could have died from starvation by the time they reach home, but the children have enough money to survive on meager funds.
(The "I" should be taken collectively, as it represents the views of the group.)
I like the idea of changing the outcome of the story. However, as Keene did in the Juniper Tree, it might be appropriate to have the death of one or both of the children be almost accidental. For example, in the Juniper Tree, the boy jumped off the cliff (he was provoked, but he was not physically harmed by the "witch"). I feel Keene would use psychology to drive the children to hurt themselves. For example, maybe they become paranoid and sense the end is coming and decide to poison the witch but end up poisoning themselves? (okay so I don't actually have a good idea on how they would do it... sorry!)
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of making witch's death less dramatic. It seems like something Keene would do because it shifts the focus from the actual violence/murder to the reasons necessitating the witch's death. The scene would probably be in a very sparsely decorated setting, with little dialogue and subdued music. With so few distractions, the viewer would be forced to consider the implications of the murder for both the witch and the children rather than the act of murder itself. The viewer could then consider the circumstances leading up to the murder, which would reflect the desolate world that Keene believes generated fairy tales.
ReplyDeleteI think it's a great idea to throw in sexual movement of some sort into the storyline for this "film." In Keene's The Juniper Tree, Margit is becoming much more sexually aware, especially after she sees her sister and Johann rolling around in the fields. It is natural for her to focus that awareness on her male counterpart in the story - Jonas. Perhaps in the Hansel and Gretel story, the children should accidentally see either their father and stepmother in some sexual act, or perhaps comment on sexual acts they see between animals in the wood. This would tie into the psuedo-incestial experimenting and then being caught.
ReplyDeleteI think the way your group added the sexual aspect to the "real-world" Hansel and Gretel was great. It was very in line with what we have both spoken about in class, and what was touched on in the readings. Also, it goes along with what Keene portrayed in The Juniper Tree!
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