For a long time the so-called "fairy tales" have been assumed to be the product of fantasy alone. We know that their origin comes from the compilation made by, among others, the Grimm brothers of the Germanic oral betrayal. On this basis, it is not difficult to understand that in their genealogy (or archaeology) is the real life (crude and terrible) of the peoples who created them. Already the psychologist and researcher Bruno Betthelheim, in his study on "fairy tales" in the 70s of the twentieth century, had pointed in that direction.
Your post, @ladyrebecca, offers us a good look at this emblematic tale in universal children's literature. Thank you and greetings.