Since I was always a different, creepy and messed up child I really enjoyed reading the Brothers Grimm as a kid and also "Rumpelstilzchen" how it's spelled in German. Although it's some time ago that I last read Brothers Grimm - on Christmas, I gave my Mom the whole works of the Brothers as a present - it was immediately back in my mind and that shows that you did your analysis very well.

Also someone who isn't German or hasn't read the fairy tale I think could relate to it, because you showed graphic the outline and core of the story and what's related to it and maybe triggered the Brothers to write it.

I liked your "digress" from the story about the Number Three. I've never noticed it that way, but that's often with things we don't think are necessary. And how should numbers be important for a fairy tale, right?

I think you made a good point with saying that unnamed evil is scarier than that what has a name. Then it was dragged into the light and has lost its scare. But an unknown, maybe invisible enemy, sheeesh... That bothers one a lot, not only in the context of fairy tales or fictional stories.

I have a temporary diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder. Until I got that I couldn't place my extreme and too often out-of-place moodswings. They scared me silly because I couldn't explain my irrational behavior and actions, but now with a strong hint about what it could be it has lost its scare. I could put my once scary behaviors and actions into the larger context of my past and understood what caused it. Now I cope with it and well. It has lost its scary myth. See what I mean?

If you don't mind I might have an explanation for why Rumpelstilchen rather wanted the child than all the treasures the Queen had to offer.

Evil - personalized in Rumpelstilzchen - always aims at the weakest spot of the individual it haunts. The weakest spot of every individual is either its own life or that of the ones dearest to it. Ergo it would hurt the Queen most and increases evils pleasure the most when she suffers most. Material values can always be somehow replaced - although not always to extent it was before - but a human life and especially that of one's own child can never be replaced. See?

It's the same with criminals taking hostages and requesting ransom. They know that it will be paid because the adressed don't want to lose their loved one(s) and do anything they need to do to get them back so that their worst fear won't come true.

Exactly that did Rumpelstilzchen do to the Queen: finding her weak spot and triggering her worst fear. You are a mother yourself. Isn't it your worst fear to lose to child and wouldn't you do anything to prevent that?