Literary Analysis of Gambling Hansel by Grimm Brothers

Have you ever indulge yourself in gambling? Did you win or lose? What did you get after? In most cases, people do it for fun at first, then, later on, they get addicted to it. A gambler never makes the same mistake twice. It is usually three or more times, said VP Pappy. The story Gambling Hansel by Grimm Brothers would give the readers a much clearer view of the effects of gambling when get addicted to it.

In the story, Hansel is the main character who wants to gamble almost every time. That is why he was called a gambling hansel. He was addicted to it, which lead to the point where he lost everything. Then, the Lord and St. Peter came to his house. They tested Hansel, and Hansel got tempted many times. However, they grant Hansel three wishes, though he wishes for cards and dice that would help him to win in gambling and a tree. Hansel died but continued to gamble in hell with Lucifer. He was thrown to the earth by the Lord, and his soul was broken into pieces and got into gamblers today.   

Dr. Luke Clark said that gambling games promote an ‘illusion of control’: the belief that the gambler can exert skill over an outcome that is actually defined by chance. In the story, Hansel exerted so much effort to win the game, that he even sacrificed his time and assets for an uncertain result. The uncertainty plays a crucial role for people to be attracted to gambling. Mike Robinson, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Wesleyan University, stated that Dopamine, the neurotransmitter the brain releases during enjoyable activities such as eating, sex, and drugs, is also released during situations where the reward is uncertain. In fact, dopamine release increases particularly during the moments leading up to a potential reward. This anticipation effect might explain why dopamine release parallels an individual’s levels of gambling “high” and the severity of his or her gambling addiction. It likely also plays a role in reinforcing the risk-taking behavior is seen in gambling.

Furthermore, Hansel was smart in a bad way seems like he knew what will happen to him. He tricked the Lord and St. Peter, and even Lucifer. Beatrice Lipson featured on her blog that gambling and winning require a person to think logically and strategically. Thus it helps a person become a smart thinker. Besides being smart, it also makes a person more social, and it is a good way to take a break from the monotonous everyday life and add some spices to it. If not addicted, a little bit of gambling can provide a person with a lot of refreshment and enjoyment.

Aside from revealing why there are impulsive gamblers on earth, it reveals also how good the Lord is- for still giving what Hansel asked for his gambling addiction, knowing that it is bad for him. The Lord is patient for not punishing him right away, which means he was given a chance to apologize and change. In Numbers 14:18, it says there that the Lord is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity, and transgression. But, he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generations.

It is sad, however, that some people do not repent for their sins and keep committing the same mistakes. The theme of the story is we maybe have time to enjoy doing bad on earth, but for sure, the heaven above will not have time to entertain us neither knew our name. So, follow what Acts 3:19 says: 

Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.