Inscribed into everyone’s brain are the infamous fairy tales in which have acted as the chief entertainment for youth. Ranging from Alice in Wonderland to Little Red Riding Hood we are comfortable with the elements that each of these stories contains, “parallels, analogies, plot structures,[and] references.” Memorized since childhood even the oldest of the elders can recall on these stories in a quick second.
In Gretel in Darkness by Louise Gluck, the poem is narrated by the legendary Gretel. Gluck shows open wounds that consume Gretel’s life after the journey of the famous fairytale of Hansel and Gretel. Gluck exemplifies how Hansel and Gretel’s “happily ever after” did not turn out just the way they plan to. The Poem embarks into Gretel’s mind, where confusion, sorrow, and abandonment are abundant. Starting where the fairytale left off the readers are required to recall on their memory of the fairytale to be able to understand why Gretel is now in misery. Now living in the hut with her father and brother the readers are to presume that she should be content now, ending in her supposed “happily ever after.” However, the poem tells of an other wise misery, causing for a reevaluation of the expected by the reader. Gretel turns for Hansel’s company only to be rejected, “nights I turn to you to hole me but you are not there,” comforted by confusion. The reader is now able to share the confused feelings with Gretel understanding that she saved her brother’s life from the witch, with the pervious knowledge of the original fairy tale. Gluck’s method of relying on the reader’s profound understanding of Hansel and Gretel to create complexity with her rather short poem is brilliant. This poem allows for a new twist to be brought upon Hansel and Gretel and for a new appreciation of the story from the readers.
No comments:
Post a Comment