Hansel and Gretel Overcoming the challenges of an unstable household can motivate an individual to conspire, solicit and commit criminal offenses in order to survive. People attempt various courses of action in an effort to achieve a goal. Since the pros outweighs the cons, people are likely to commit that crime. During a crucial time, the end goal is to survive. Suppose that the only way to live through the hardship is to sacrifice your children. Therefore, the best course of action is to murder your children based on the belief that you will all die of starvation. This was the state of mind of the stepmother in the story of Hansel and Gretel. Forces controlled by hardship, the stepmother determined the well-being of her and her husband involved the murder of Hansel and Gretel. She decided that the potential benefits of the death of her stepchildren is greater than the cost or they were sure to all die of hunger. She conspired to lead Hansel and Gretel into the woods for the purposes to…show more content… As parents, they have a legal obligation to keep their children safe. Parents have a duty to care for and protect the welfare of their children. The parental responsibility is not to put your children in harms way and leave them in the woods. For any child, the dangers of the woods overnight would likely cause psychological and physical harm. Even for adults, the forest can be a dangerous place to be overnight especially unprepared. Fortunately, Hansel and Gretel made it back home safely. With the help of the path of stones Hansel left, they were able to find their way back home unharmed. Their father was glad to see them alive but their stepmother was not happy to see them. The two reactions upon Hansel and Gretel’s return is the difference in the state of mind. These facts are important in determining the mens rea and the motivating circumstances that will dictate the degree of