The characters make sacrifices to support the people they care about. This often leads to a positive outcome, but sometimes, there are negative results before a situation improves. Through Johannes’s character arc and the various things Hansel and Gretel give up to help others, A Tale Dark and Grimm explores the impact of giving support.

Johannes’s character is built around faithfulness and the associated costs and benefits. In Chapter 1 while Johannes explains his role to the new king, he explores the difference between understanding and under-standing. The first, "understanding,” is the familiar definition—empathizing and gaining knowledge of another person. and Johannes defines the second, “under-standing,” as helping others by “[b]earing their troubles and their pains on my shoulders” (8).

Johannes’s desire to support his king leads to the novel’s strife. While the book ultimately has a happy ending, the road is long, complicated, and dark. After hearing the ravens discuss the ways the king could die, Johannes offers the ultimate support by going against what the king wants to ensure his survival. Johannes doesn’t explain why he does this until he’s about to die, as doing so will turn him to stone.