It seems to me like Gaiman was trying to create a dichotomy between Hazel and Wanda in this story
Hmm, that's an interesting point - and if you're right, then it reduces Hazel and her pregnancy (and therefore her womanhood) to being metaphors -- which is something i find difficult to accept. If aspects of the human condition are used as literary devices or metaphors for something else the author is on dangerous territory.
Wanda's death is, IMO, frankly gratuitous. At least the old homeless woman died saving Barbie. Wanda's death serves really no purpose for the plot, except to allow for some pathos as Barbie has to deal with Wanda's terribly transphobic family of origin. (In fact i wonder if Gaiman offered this as a counterpoint to the gender essentialism of the earlier part of the story? Worth pondering.)
It's hard for me to read "A Game of You" in the context of when it was published because i have only recently encountered it, but you're right, it needs to be considered in that context, which makes many of these sins a bit more forgivable.
no subject
Hmm, that's an interesting point - and if you're right, then it reduces Hazel and her pregnancy (and therefore her womanhood) to being metaphors -- which is something i find difficult to accept. If aspects of the human condition are used as literary devices or metaphors for something else the author is on dangerous territory.
Wanda's death is, IMO, frankly gratuitous. At least the old homeless woman died saving Barbie. Wanda's death serves really no purpose for the plot, except to allow for some pathos as Barbie has to deal with Wanda's terribly transphobic family of origin. (In fact i wonder if Gaiman offered this as a counterpoint to the gender essentialism of the earlier part of the story? Worth pondering.)
It's hard for me to read "A Game of You" in the context of when it was published because i have only recently encountered it, but you're right, it needs to be considered in that context, which makes many of these sins a bit more forgivable.