In this narrative analysis, Dr. Jordan B. Peterson breaks down the Grimm Brothers’ “Hansel and Gretel,” revealing the psychological and symbolic dimensions hidden within the classic tale. From the selfishness of weak fathers and malevolent stepmothers to the false promises of hyper-solicitous care, Peterson explores how the abandonment of children into the unknown mirrors moral failure at home—and how faith, courage, and sibling love can redeem it. With echoes of biblical stories and and all too modern warning about overprotective parenting, this fairy tale becomes a rich allegory for navigating betrayal, scarcity, and emerging maturity.
This episode was filmed on July 5th, 2025.
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| Chapters |
(0:00) Intro, Dr. Peterson reads your comments
(1:09) The psychology of the “weak father,” parallels to Elijah
(8:26) How Hansel and Gretel contrast with their parents
(17:20) The repetition of harm, abandoned in the unknown
(27:19) When the trail home is eaten, the motif of virtue and the facade of beauty
(36:00) What the child-eating witch really represents
(43:51) Carl Jung’s view on dysfunctional families
(47:47) What treasure represents as a reward for facing evil, the white duck
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