We summarize and then analyze the Grimm’s Bros.’ story “Hans the Hedgehog.” This is a story about a wealthy peasant who only lacks a child and declares he’d want one even if it’s a hedgehog. He gets his wish but is unsatisfied, and even wishes the child dead. But the indefatigable diminutive half-man half-beast child, hidden behind the stove, gets a few gifts and happily goes off with them into nature, where he cultivates his herd and saves two kings. He makes deals with both, and punishes the malevolent liar king and marries the other’s daughter, shedding his spines in consummating love, gaining a kingdom and his father’s acceptance. We analyze this story being about responsibility and becoming fully a human and a man, among other things. A different kind of story with a shod rooster, a bagpipe playing hedgehog boy hero, and a giant herd of pigs and asses.

(Sorry about the bad sound on my end. It’s been corrected in future episodes.)

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For more in this podcast, please go to:

Podbean:

https://benomtad.podbean.com

Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-benomtad/id1748320863

YouTube:

https://m.youtube.com/@scissorsandpaper/videos

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/4kJPGlaJjGVyLa9AKhci6t?si=8XXrX9FUT3CU71reCfA5kQ

I plan to conduct more interviews with various guests, so please check back later for those.