Fraud, Rape, and Neil Gaiman's Pet Spiders
Neil Gaiman is universally adored, right? So maybe discussing my discomfort about one of his works is kind of useless. But I want to talk about this, so I'm okay with talking to the airy vapors.
I'm reading -- well actually, listening on audiobook -- to one of his novels, Anansi Boys. The narrator does great voices. That, honestly, is the main reason I've listened this far.
The main character (Fat Charlie, who is not fat) is one of those characters who exist solely for the author to throw one unfortunate and embarrassing thing after another at them -- just a nice, well-meaning, low-confidence target. I assume he'll triumph at the end of the book, but I was skeptical from the start about whether I'd hold out that long.
My hackles raised when the narration made a big to-do of the fact that Fat Charlie's fiancee Rosie was waiting for marriage to sleep with him. No motive is ascribed to this except that she made up her mind as a teenager and insisted "it was her decision." (Fancy that!)
Now, I've never encountered a female character in contemporary mainstream media whose choice to wait on sex was portrayed as anything but 1) pure hypocrisy, 2) a sign of contemptible prudery/religious mania/bitchiness, or 3) a challenge which the male hero must overcome. I hoped for better things from Gaiman than 1 or 2, but I suspected 3 was probably on the nose. As part of Fat Charlie's character arch toward confidence, he would no doubt successfully bed Rosie.
Then his brother turns up, a character named Spider who is not actually human. (Remember the title? Charlie is Anansi's human son, Spider is his god son.) So obviously Charlie's reformation will be precipitated by Spider, who is attractive and cool and confident and everything Charlie thinks he's not. I began to suspect that Rosie would sleep with Spider.
Well, yes. And no. Because what actually happens is that Spider, having god powers, convinces everyone that he is Charlie. And since he's exuding attractiveness mojo, Rosie falls into bed with this "Charlie" immediately.
Which is rape. Legally it's called “rape by deception” or “rape by fraud” and it's rape, rape, rape. But does the narrative seem to notice this? Nope.
Charlie is hurt... on his own behalf. Spider's happy. Rosie's happy, because she thinks her fiance got way more attractive suddenly. A new female character's been introduced as a love interest to replace Rosie. (Because you know, she's not much of a prize for Charlie anymore.) I suspect Rosie will probably end up with her rapist, Spider, because obviously she likes him more than Charlie, right? After all, a girl who says she doesn't want sex always secretly does -- she just isn't attracted to you.
Okay, okay, I know I haven't finished the book. I'm projecting. But a girl is being raped by fraud and the only reaction anyone's had is hurt pride. So, Neil Gaiman, I'm feeling a bit uncomfortable, thanks. And I'm not too impressed with you right now.
I'm reading -- well actually, listening on audiobook -- to one of his novels, Anansi Boys. The narrator does great voices. That, honestly, is the main reason I've listened this far.
The main character (Fat Charlie, who is not fat) is one of those characters who exist solely for the author to throw one unfortunate and embarrassing thing after another at them -- just a nice, well-meaning, low-confidence target. I assume he'll triumph at the end of the book, but I was skeptical from the start about whether I'd hold out that long.
My hackles raised when the narration made a big to-do of the fact that Fat Charlie's fiancee Rosie was waiting for marriage to sleep with him. No motive is ascribed to this except that she made up her mind as a teenager and insisted "it was her decision." (Fancy that!)
Now, I've never encountered a female character in contemporary mainstream media whose choice to wait on sex was portrayed as anything but 1) pure hypocrisy, 2) a sign of contemptible prudery/religious mania/bitchiness, or 3) a challenge which the male hero must overcome. I hoped for better things from Gaiman than 1 or 2, but I suspected 3 was probably on the nose. As part of Fat Charlie's character arch toward confidence, he would no doubt successfully bed Rosie.
Then his brother turns up, a character named Spider who is not actually human. (Remember the title? Charlie is Anansi's human son, Spider is his god son.) So obviously Charlie's reformation will be precipitated by Spider, who is attractive and cool and confident and everything Charlie thinks he's not. I began to suspect that Rosie would sleep with Spider.
Well, yes. And no. Because what actually happens is that Spider, having god powers, convinces everyone that he is Charlie. And since he's exuding attractiveness mojo, Rosie falls into bed with this "Charlie" immediately.
Which is rape. Legally it's called “rape by deception” or “rape by fraud” and it's rape, rape, rape. But does the narrative seem to notice this? Nope.
Charlie is hurt... on his own behalf. Spider's happy. Rosie's happy, because she thinks her fiance got way more attractive suddenly. A new female character's been introduced as a love interest to replace Rosie. (Because you know, she's not much of a prize for Charlie anymore.) I suspect Rosie will probably end up with her rapist, Spider, because obviously she likes him more than Charlie, right? After all, a girl who says she doesn't want sex always secretly does -- she just isn't attracted to you.
Okay, okay, I know I haven't finished the book. I'm projecting. But a girl is being raped by fraud and the only reaction anyone's had is hurt pride. So, Neil Gaiman, I'm feeling a bit uncomfortable, thanks. And I'm not too impressed with you right now.