Gretel Final Copy

Sara Phillips 2A

Once upon a time’s usually end with happily ever afters, however - for Gretel - that is not

the case. After escaping the clutches of an evil witch by scorthing her to death, Gretel suffers the

effects of a haunting past. Within the poem, Gretel in Darkness, Louise Gluck describes Hansel

and Gretel’s return home after their escape from death using strong imagery, diction, and POV to

portray the loneliness Gretel feels as she suffers through her memories without Hansel’s help.

The image of the witch has been burned into Gretel’s memory as a constant reminder of

what happened. She hears the “witch’s cry” (Line 3-4) as though she was standing next to her.

She sees the witch’s “tongue shrivel into gas” (Line 6) as though the gas was fogging her senses.

She remembers the night like it happened yesterday; however, this time she’s walking through

the “black forest” (Line 24) alone, Hansel nowhere to be found. Gretel is alone in her suffering,

and alone is this suffocating darkness Gluck describes in the title. A darkness that surrounds

Gretel, leaving little hope for light to shine through - for Hansel, or anyone, to help her.

Gluck portrays a strong use of diction to pull the reader into what Gretel is still feeling,

still seeing. The “shriveling” of the witches tongue and the “hissing” of spies place Gretel back

in the house (Line 6 and 22). The house where the “gleaming kiln” taunts her with its shiny,

“here I am”, look (Line 18). The house surrounded by “armed firs” (Line 17) threatening her

with their shadowed weapons. The house that is “real, real” (Line 23), enabling her from

believing it was all a dream. However, “no one remembers, ever [her]... brother” (Line 13) which

increases Gretel’s loneliness - to her it is real, it is unforgettable.

“Why do I not forget?” (Line 10) Gretel is traumatized by her past, wishing to be able to

forget about the horrific event like everyone else. However, Gluck uses the title, Gretel in

Darkness, to show how alone Gretel is in her suffering. She is constantly asking herself why her
senses are betraying her, why she can’t forget about the witches laugh, screaming winds, and

haunting trees. As Gretel sits in darkness - Hansel sits in freedom, in light.