If you have never read or heard the original story of "Hansel and Gretel," then look it up on the internet before continuing.

I love my stepchildren dearly, and I knew that they would starve if they stayed with us. We had no food to feed them, and my heart couldn’t bear to watch them die, so I sent them out into the woods. I was sure that Hansel knew enough about the forest to find the edible nuts and berries that I was too weak to search for myself. I couldn’t believe my ears when I was accused of wishing harm to those children!

Who is talking in this passage?