those old fairytales often had vastly different messages from what we think they do, nowadays.

I feel like the story has some strong German/Slavic/European roots, back during the times of a war torn and war mongering nations and economic inequality (still is).

From your interpretation, is it a cautionary tale for young women to fear the dangers of nature, or fear of men? (there were a lot of highway men and thieves on the roads I’m sure).

oh, of course. and they usually hid in remote woods, at least those without regular hunting parties from the ruling class.

there is a saying that, during medieval times, the woods all across germany were so close together that a squirrel could jump on a tree somewhere in switzterland or austria, and never touch the ground until it reached the nothern sea. a lot of it has vanished since then, of course.
but yeh, these woods were used to hide from authorities. and victims, too, of course. thus, a single girl walking through the woods was most likely to never reach their destiny.

someone proposed that the fairytale of Hansel&Gretel was based on a far older legend from pre-roman times of a witch that gained immortality by eating children.