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Bettleheim (1976) suggests that unlike much of modern children's literature, the fairy tale addresses the deep inner conflicts originating in our primitive drives and violent emotions. He describes Hansel and Gretel as a fairy tale about a boy and a girl's oral anxieties; their struggle to work through the early state of dependency on the symbiotic, feeding mother; and their transcendence of this early phase to reach a more individuated, autonomous self-stage. In Bettleheim's view, both Hansel and Gretel give full rein to their oral regression (e.g., they eat the gingerbread house); while the adult females, the stepmother and the witch, represent the Bad Mother and the destructive aspects of oral regression.
This paper, as well, concerns “boys and girls” (or men and women) and possible contrasts between the genders in coping with orality and conflicts around dependency issues. I agree with Bettleheim that both Hansel and Gretel demonstrate passive-dependent and active initiating tendencies, and cooperate mutually to overcome their trauma. Hansel and Gretel's “oral regression,” “wish to merge with the self-object,” or “eating binge” was triggered by the depriving stepmother who sent them out of the house without food. In many ways, they seem to exhibit similar behaviors, wishes, anxieties, and capacities. However, on rereading the tale, contrasting roles became apparent:
Hansel comforts Gretel in her state of separation anxiety on several occasions, while the reverse does not occur.
Gretel seems more able to express her dependency wishes than Hansel.
Hansel is the initiator of schemes for creating paths in the woods that will lead back home.
Hansel is the first to state the need to leave the gingerbread house as soon as they are freed.
When they set out into the woods, Gretel puts bread in her apron, while Hansel puts stones in his pocket (which could be seen as items respectively symbolic of “mother” and “outside mother”).
Hansel is the one chosen to be devo