“HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
AND THE DISCOURSE OF THE
DOMINATED”
JACK ZIPES
Jessica Brumley, Alliah Davis, & Alexandra Wolfe
THESIS
Jack Zipes discusses how Hans Christian
Andersen’s desire and struggle to ascend his social
position in 19th century Europe significantly
influenced the synthesis of his literature.
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSON
S T R U G G L E D W I T H H I S I N T E G R AT I O N
INTO THE UPPER CLASS
 Hans Christian Anderson strongly desired to be completely accepted by upper class
nobility
 Despite Hans Christian Anderson’s great success as a writer, his proletarian family
background restrained his efforts to rise from the dominated class and into the dominating
circle. This inspired his belief in natural nobility.
 “…he devoutly believed that certain biologically determined people were chosen by
divine providence to rise above others.” Zipes, 248.
 Andersen rationalized his need for recognition by the upper classes by asserting his own
artistry as God given gifts that merited his progression in social hierarchy
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN INFUSED HIS
OW N D O M I N AT E D L I F E I N T O H I S TA L E S B Y
D E M O N S T R ATI N G A C O M M O N T H R E A D
 Andersen was born in a ‘Lumpenproletariat” society
 “In almost all of Andersen’s early tales, he focuses on lower-class or
disenfranchised protagonists, who work their way up and into society.” Zipes,
279
 His tales are essential because they exposed similar motifs such as
““significance of providence, the essence of geniality, the role of the artist,
the treatment of women, and the system of patronage.” Zipes, 271
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSON APPEALED TO
T H E L OW E R C L A S S B E C AU S E H E S P O K E
F RO M H I S OW N E X P E R I E N C E A N D
STRUGGLES
“Everything In It’s Right Place” Zipes, 293.
“The Gardener and His Master” Zipes, 298.
“Andersen’s genius, despite his servility, rested in his
inability to prevent himself from loathing all that he
admired.” Zipes, 303.
EVALUATION
 Jack Zipes makes an excellent argument establishing Hans Christian Andersen’s
conflict with social order and how it translated into his literary tales. The evidence he
uses, including excerpts from the works of Noëlle Bisseret, Finn Hauberg Mortensen,
and Hans Christian Andersen himself enhance his argument by giving the reader a
stronger insight into 19th century Europe and motive behind Andersen’s work. In
addition, Zipes’ use of Andersen’s actual literary fairy tales into his argument to
connect his assertions could probably convince the most skeptical readers. Jack Zipes'
argument relates to other scholarship's such as "Hansel and Gretel" and "Molly
Whoopie" because hidden within these other fairy tales is a symbolic struggle with
being lower class.