#4 - I was promised a pregnant man!
Arlo and Pa Ying discuss The Disabled Tyrant's Beloved Pet Fish Vol. 3 by Xue Shan Fei Hu.
Arlo and Pa Ying are only discussing the novel The Disabled Tyrant's Beloved Pet Fish. We do not claim ownership of this title, its content, or official art. Please support the original release.
Li Yu’s transition from fish to man, a successful transgender allegory
While reading this volume, I was struck by a profound moment in Li Yu’s journey. On pages 198 and 199, right after finding out that he would need to call on the help of Prince Jing to get through the next task in his quest to return to his fully human form, Li Yu’s internal monologue details an experience that reflects that of a person struggling with dysphoria. Li Yu’s entire journey demonstrates the experience of being in a body that feels misaligned with one's identity. His quest to discover himself and transition into a body that more closely matches who he is serves as an allegory for the experiences of transgender individuals. However, this moment was so profound in how successfully it articulates the feeling of having to depend on the support of others in a moment of vulnerability that intensifies those feelings of existential discomfort.