Did the stepmother abandon Hansel and Gretel because they were poor, or was it simply because she was plain wicked? This is a question that is asked time and again. In this story, typically good and evil characters exist and bad deeds are eventually overshadowed by goodness. The concept of an evil stepmother is hardly acceptable at present. Many of us have seen stepmothers who love their stepchildren unconditionally. However, the more important aspect of the fairy tale lies in the fact that the young children are able to overcome dangers by their presence of mind, wisdom and courage. Not to mention the highlight of the story?the gingerbread house?that appeals to every child’s imagination, making them go back to the story time and again.