Hansel & Gretel Formed Me
TO FIGHT WITCHES
“My first and last philosophy, that which I believe in with unbroken certainty, I learnt in the nursery…. The things I believed most then, the things I believe most now, are the things called fairy tales.” ~ G.K. Chesterton
One of my favorite childhood stories is Hansel and Gretel. First published by the Brothers Grimm in 1812, this tale is almost as old as our nation. The Grimms’ stories, including Cinderella, Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty, and Snow White, have become foundational to what would eventually fuel the Disney empire.
German folklore, like Hansel and Gretel, reflected and forged a rugged survivalist mentality, even among children. These stories didn’t shy away from depicting evil and danger, using them as opportunities to teach courage and wisdom. Interestingly, at the time of its publication, America was expanding westward, where pioneers faced constant threats from both the natural environment and encounters with Native Americans. (Sadly, these conflicts often led to brutalities on both sides, as recounted in books like Bill O’Reilly’s Killing Crazy Horse.)
By today’s standards, where there’s a strong tendency to shield children from the darker aspects of life, Hansel and Gretel stands out as a stark contrast. The story revolves around two young, abandoned siblings lost in the woods who confront a cannibalistic witch. Though I was probably only five or six when my mom would read the condensed illustrated version of Hansel and Gretel to me, the story had a lasting impact. Tales like these didn’t just entertain; they shaped my understanding of the world. Good fairy tales introduce us to the unseen realities of life, forging in us the vision and virtue to see the world as it truly is—a place where good and evil are in constant battle. This aligns with Chesterton’s idea in Orthodoxy, particularly in Chapter 4, “The Ethics of Elfland,” where he speaks of how stories help us recognize our God-given identity and the moral choices that define us.
Reflecting on this now, I realize how formative these stories were for my conscience. I didn’t just enjoy the action; I internalized the moral struggles and challenges. I faced my own moral dilemma around the same age as when I first read Hansel and Gretel, and played Hansel at Sacred Heart School, in second grade. Walking through a department store with my mom, I was captivated by a cool-looking dartboard on display, which cost $12—a significant sum for a child. My first consequential spiritual battle began. Not unlike the very first battle in the Garden, the dartboard was a “delight to the eyes.” (Gen. 3:6) An unspoken whisper seemed to slither in and taunt my imagination. Over time, as I entertained my desire for the beguiling figment more and more, I began to hear something within speak in a creepy voice, My precciooous! (Not really, but you get the idea.)
Looking around the house for loose change, I found six very special $2 bills, one for each of us children gifted by my grandparents. Just enough! I recall approaching the checkout counter, feeling the heavy weight of the heist in my pocket. When my mom discovered the missing money, I was overwhelmed with guilt. A very good thing. It became an opportunity for me to right my troubled moral compass through confession and experience the very real, tangible, transformative power of mercy and redemption in Jesus Christ.
This early experience marked a turning point in my life. At just eight years old, I committed to living for Jesus Christ, a decision that has guided me ever since. I began a nightly practice of praying the “Our Father,” “Hail Mary,” and “Glory Be,” a habit that continues to this day. Much of this spiritual formation was rooted in the lessons I learned from stories like Hansel and Gretel.
Hansel and Gretel is not just a fairytale; it reflects the ultimate drama that defines every human life. It’s the story of a protagonist who embarks on a journey, faces trials, and emerges transformed. This narrative mirrors the life of Christ, embedded in each of us, and explains why stories like this resonate so profoundly with people across cultures and generations. They remind us that we are not mere spectators in life but active participants in a divine drama that determines our eternal destiny.
The Witch is very much in season. In today’s society, the reality of evil is becoming increasingly evident and unsettling. The same forces that once shaped our fairy tales now find expression in the moral stances promoted and entrenched by an entire political party, aided by much of the legacy media. Among the most alarming examples is the indoctrination of gender confusion in schools and broader culture, including the shocking advocacy for minors to undergo genital mutilation without the knowledge or consent of their parents. Even more horrifying is their relentless push for unrestricted access to abortion, allowing the termination of a living, unborn child throughout all nine months of pregnancy—an interpretation of Roe that blurs the line with its ambiguity over “health.”
While many abortion advocates might recoil at the association between abortion and satanic ritual (Harvard Law), one cannot help but see a disturbing parallel. Consider the Democrats' “free abortion truck” planted at their convention—how is this not akin to a ritualistic offering? The word "worship" derives from the act of attributing worth. At its core, abortion is the sacrifice of something extraordinarily beautiful and sacred on the altar of a "god" of comfort, pleasure, or a distorted sense of freedom. Imagine if the witch in Hansel and Gretel had set up shop in the heart of the village—what response would we expect from the villagers? What would separate the villains from the heroes?
In our present-day narrative, where do we stand?
In The Fellowship of the Ring, amidst great darkness, Gandalf reminds Frodo, “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” By God's design, each of us has a crucial role in this very real story. It is an undeniable struggle between good and evil, with everything on the line. Today, real-life "witches" and their malevolent ideologies operate openly. With all of heaven as our witness, the ultimate question that confronts you and me is simply this: What will you do about it?
“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.” ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer
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My book, The Magnificent Piglets of Pigletsvlle captures our present-day plight wrapped in a fairytale, describing the cosmology of shallows and depths under the Whisper of the Unseen, creatures not destined for merely Anywhere, but Somewhere, and very accurately predicting our present-day political situation. (BUY)
If you like energetic, anthematic, patriotic rock with a soul, check out the Shatterglass Scallywags. Named after the revolutionary piglets in Magnificent Piglets, songs from their first album (Heal Our Land) powerfully punctuate faith and truth woven into our nation, including Revere (Paul Revere’s ride), Hariet’s Heart (about Harriet Tubman) 4Score (Abe’s Anthem), Prophets of Our Time, 714 (Heal Our Land) and others! (GO)