Tell Me Something Good

Enter the Witch by Diana Lucente

We all know the beloved story of Hansel and Gretel.  But do we ever consider that there might be other perspectives to the story?  One fascinating perspective which has been played out in many contemporary versions of the Hansel and Gretel story is that of the Wicked Witch. Many of us blindly accept the stereotype that she is the epitome of pure and quintessential evil to be to be destroyed at all costs. However, there are some modern versions of the Wicked Witch which give an alternative perpective on her predicament.  One of my favorites is a poem by Mibre Burch entitled "After Push Comes to Shove".  In this poem, the Witch provides an internal monologue which picks up from the original's storyline just after she is thrust into the oven by Gretel.  This clever poem makes one think twice about the so-called
"happy ending" of the tale.  In it, the witch is somewhat humanized, not exactly likeable, but at least better understood.  We are forced to empathize with her horrific predicament as we hear her thought processes while she literally burns to death.  In the end, presumably just before she dies, the story comes full circle:  The Wicked Witch, like Hansel and Gretel at the beginning of our beloved original tale,
becomes, in essence, "a child alone in the woods."

AFTER PUSH COMES TO SHOVE

           By Milbre Burch

 

I am curled in a fetal position

In the darkness and the heat,

Surrounded on all sides by my red-hot tomb.

My limbs tied

In a careless knot of falling inward,

Sacrificed because my own naivete

Outweighed that of a little girl.

My hair frizzles in a flash,

My eyes melt, my tongue bakes,

My flesh splits and oozes,

My grease spatters the sides of the oven.

In a way, it is a relief;

A diet of children is very rich

Both in calories and karma.

And now, by their actions,

They have become what I once was.

She tricked me, the little hussy,

Egged on by my poor eyesight and bad judgment.

Pretending to passivity no more,

She’s saved that worthless brother of hers,

All meat and ill-begun ideas.

They’ll take my treasure

The same way they gnawed my house

As if it were their due.

They’ll share their ill-gotten gains

With their foolish father.

He, meanwhile, for sentimental reasons

Will have discarded the clever second wife.

He no longer needs her thrift;

His future’s certain now.

They’ll, all of them, grow soft and mean.

The father putting aside his trade as a woodcutter

And going to brothels till

His advancing age and worthlessness

Cause his beloved children

To rid themselves of him.

If there’s any justice in the cosmos,

They’ll desert the old man

In the woods on a winter’s night.

He will have long since forgotten the way

And freeze to death before hunger gets him

Hansel and Grethel will fight

Over the inheritance, and end

By poisoning one another

With a glass of lemonade

And a dish of gingerbread.

I take some comfort in this

As my organs become ash and

I am burned away to what’s at my core:

A child alone in the woods.

(Thank you to Milbre Burch for permission to include the poem in this post!)

The image at the top can be found here: http://www.ozbalaban.com/image.php?resim=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3371/3234880541_79bfc92d79.jpg&title=hansel gretel oven: images

 

Musing on Gretel by Diana Lucente

“Gretel in Darkness” by Louise Gluck, is written from the perspective of Gretel. The poem made an impression on me in its very denial of anything female. Both stepmother and witch are dead, and Hansel and Gretel are living in the apparent security of their father's home.  But Gretel is troubled. She cannot forget.  She seems to be the only one who remembers her and Hansel's troubled past.  In the poem, Gretel ruminates on what she had to do in order to save her brother - "But I killed for you".  Hansel, alas, no longer acknowledges her selflessness and heroism.  He seems not to remember, or maybe he chooses not to.  She is alone, haunted by fear and guilt.  In contrast, it seems that that world around her has become masculinized and sanitized, populated only by her father and brother. The women - her mother, stepmother, and the witch- are all dead and gone.  What is this poem saying?  Is this the plight of a woman trying to live in a man's world?  Must the feminine ultimately be denied in favor of the masculine?  Is this poem a criticism of Western patriarchal rule? 

 

Read the poem here: http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/gretel-in-darkness/

The image at the top of the post is also titled “Gretel in Darkness” and can be found here: http://theatreofthesublime.blogspot.com/2011_01_01_archive.html

 

 

The Role of the Storyteller by Louise Laux

   “Storytellers, through their stories, can enter into our imagination and interact with our deepest human emotions.” Donald L. Hamilton

The above quote reflects some of what I hope for as a storyteller. I’d like to be able to convey meaning, understanding, entertain, interact, and teach with my stories.

We humans have the unique ability to communicate with each other with what began by utilizing complicated language.  We are also able to utilize what other species don’t have: imagination.  Thus, we can not only communicate and relate, but can also share information, emotions, and imaginative ideas with each other. 

As the ability to communicate improved, groups of people told stories to one another in every culture and clime in the world.  In time, storytellers emerged who would not only communicate, tell stories, and keep and relay the history of the people, but often direct the actions of the group. Sometimes this was good, sometimes not.  The storyteller had a lot of power over the people, and this power continues today not only in storytelling performances and other venues, but with the written word came the ability to communicate even easier and brought us to the media-saturated world we live in today.

Magazines, newspapers, books, the internet, television, movies, music and other genres all tell stories, and paint powerful pictures that certainly affect the opinions and lives of those who read, watch and listen to the stories they convey. I think the imagination once employed by story listeners has been diminished.  The media storytellers of today often leave nothing to our imagination, shoving ideas and images down our throats as it were. So now, through experience and research, I am learning more about the positive power of true oral storytelling. 

In my quest for stories, I’ve needed and wanted to find good, real, stories to tell.  Sometimes this has required research not only to find the stories, but also to learn more about the history, region and culture surrounding the story.  This research helps me to better understand the people, and understanding the people helps me to better understand the story and its meanings.  Thus, my research of France led me to the Chauvet Cave paintings. 

In earlier times, people used drawings to communicate information as well as tell stories.  In France, about 34,000 years ago, some people created pictures on the walls of some caverns/caves.  These images were discovered  in 1994, and are believed to be the oldest known cave paintings.

Seeing the pictures of the caves was inspiring to me.  I think that people may often relate verbal communication and written language with intelligence, but looking at the many paintings, it is easy to see that these early people were very intelligent.  (I’m pretty sure they survived better than I would have in that environment!)  These paintings tell more than stories … they are a fantastic link to our human past, and give me a feeling of ‘connection’, not only to them, but to everyone.  That feeling of connection is one I feel during the best of stories; the connection to someone else, real or fictional, and it’s a powerful feeling of oneness.

I am still coming to realize the power a storyteller can wield.  To control anyone has never been my intention; my intention has been to be of service, assistance, and entertainment. 

Through the centuries, storytellers have not only related stories, but have been the creators of traditions, morals, rules, laws, religions, rituals, superstitions, myths, etc.  And all these came from the storytellers’ imaginations and experiences.  History has been full of great storytellers who influenced people for good, and there have been those who have influenced the people for bad, causing hate, devastation and war. 

I think that the need for storytellers today is increasing.  We need positive thinking, inspiration, healing, peace, encouragement and sometimes even laughter, to help us make sense of our complex world, and see how alike we as humans really are.  Through storytelling we can learn, experience, understand, and share with each other, thus bridging the gaps between us.

 

France: My Story by Louise Laux

My exploration of France and it’s stories has really only just begun.  The country is rich in history, culture, literature, art, fashion, cuisine, story and, for me, family history.

As I began my search through this fascinating country, I hoped to find some great information about the country and landscape as well as stories, and I admit that I had a wish that I would somehow stumble across information about my mother’s family.  I was not disappointed. 

Just looking at images of France tells a tale of a verdant countryside, sunny beaches, historic towns and beautiful cities.  Everywhere are found people who love their country.

I did find some great stories from and about France, became more familiar with the country, it’s history, and it’s people, and I actually did find some information about my mom’s family as well.

I went to the LDS Family History Center at 41 N. Hobson, in Mesa, AZ.  This genealogical facility is open to the public-anyone can come in and search for their family. 

Imagine my surprise to find that one member of my family who lived in France was an anarchist, and even a criminal!  He was the first person ever in history to use a getaway car! Thus we go back to the question of what molds us more: heredity or environment?

Our family has always had someone in the army and in every war, beginning before the French Revolution, down through the American Revolution, Civil War, both World Wars, etc., and we still have family members serving in the US Armed forces today.  These were and are good people, and since I’ve found no other criminals, I think heredity isn’t the main factor in my own story, even though some of us occasionally do have strong opinions.

In searching for stories I found that many of the French folktales and stories were quite detailed and long, which I both like and dislike: long stories give me more to work with, but also more to learn.

One story that I think my grand kids will enjoy is ‘The Boat That Went Both on Land and on Water.’ It’s a fun story about a young man who is willing to try even when the odds are against him.  He succeeds through positive thinking, obedience, a good work ethic, and the help of friends.  I think we should let our friends help us more, and we should help

them more as well.  When we do, we not only receive and give assistance, but we build great memories and strengthen relationships.  Great memories lead to great stories to tell.    

Although my class project is now officially over, my search will continue for stories of France … and for my family as well.