Hansel and Gretel

I'm illustrating my rewritten version of Hansel and Gretel in low relief polymer panels. This is the beginning of the first one...

This was my proposal to my professor:

I struggled trying to put a modern twist on Hansel and Gretel, and instead took a step back and tried to analyze the meaning behind the tale. It will be set in a more modern day, as will be seen in the setting and character dress. I have chosen to convey the tale in a more morbid light than the Grimm Brothers chose to interpret it as. I didn’t want to overwhelm the audience with blatant imagery of present day society, so instead I chose to keep the story concise and true to its nature.

My relief sculptures will illustrate the duality of good and evil in everyman. Modern day society tends to shy away from the often unforgiving nature of human existence. Abandonment of children, the darkness of overindulgence, the weakness in youth, and the wrath of wickedness- these points will all be touched upon in each panel, as the story progresses.

Although social norms might dictate us a society of ‘sugarcoating’, per say, we all revel in crime and punishment. There will be no room of jewels and precious stones for Hansel and Gretel. The children might be inexperienced in the start of their grim journey, but they learn the way of the world in the end. They are rewarded with their lives and nothing more. The parallel between the stepmother and the witch will be no coincidence in my tale; they will be the same character. As for the father who has followed the lead of the guised witch as his wife, he will reap no benefits for his weaknesses. He too will pay for his abandonment behind bars.
In conclusion, all of the characters in the tale will reach their absolution. Hansel and Gretel will lose their innocence, the father will lose his freedom, and the wicked witch will lose her life.