Heroine

In the Brothers Grimm’s version “The Robber Bridegroom,” the heroine’s character is a celebration of self-preservation and cleverness. The entire story, the girl knew that there was something strange about her suitor, and did not trust him at all. She tried to make excuses not to visit him, but to no avail. Forced into visiting, the girl “filled her pockets with peas and lentils to mark the way,” much like Hansel and Gretel. This was very clever because “the wind had scattered the ashes, but the peas and lentils had sprouted and showed the way in the moonlight.” She is also clever to take the finger with the ring on it as proof of the robber's murder. Upon showing it, the robber and his group "were executed for their dreadful deeds."