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Despite the major role that Drosselmeier plays throughout the story, he remains one of its most mysterious characters. At times he seems almost omniscient, yet he also has moments where he acts rather clueless. The type of relationship that he has with the Stahlbaum children is even more difficult to discern, especially due to his involvement with the Nutcracker and the Mouse King. For a story about blurring the line between imagination and reality, however, Drosselmeier seems to fit right in. He is a character that defies easy categorization, and this quality allows him to function as a bridge between the Stahlbaums’ reality and the world of the Puppet Kingdom. Hoffmann refuses to give the reader clear explanations of Drosselmeier’s motivations and behaviors much like he refuses to define Maria’s journey in logical terms.
In many instances, Drosselmeier comes across as an antagonistic figure. He has a short temper, and he repeatedly mocks Maria about her love for the Nutcracker. These harsh moments confuse Maria, who wants to see the best in him, but for the reader, they foreshadow his dark, manipulative tendencies. Drosselmeier, after all, actively calls forth the mice and ensures that Maria bears witness to the brutal battle between her beloved Nutcracker and the Mouse King. He also refuses to acknowledge this role when Maria questions him, leading her family to believe that she is imagining things. All of these choices create tension between Maria and Drosselmeier, and this dynamic pushes her to find comfort in her connection with the Nutcracker. Ironically, the Nutcracker shares in Maria’s distrust of her godfather, making a disgusted face when she mentions him.
Drosselmeier nevertheless plays a crucial role in guiding Maria to embrace her imagination. Due to his presence in both the Stahlbaums’ reality and the Puppet Kingdom, he knows that belief is the key to making extraordinary things possible. Drosselmeier’s direct involvement in breaking Lady Mouserings’ curse means that he has firsthand knowledge of what it will take to free the Nutcracker from his enchanted form, and he seems certain that Maria is the girl who has the power to do so. This perspective is perhaps what drives Drosselmeier to treat her the way that he does, even if it means straining their relationship. He must ensure that she develops belief in her imagination on her own.
