The Windup Girl

These short chapters prepare for the climax of the novel, in which Environment and Trade will finally square off. Kanya’s own conflicted role here is emphasized by Jaidee’s question about Pracha: if Pracha destroyed Kanya’s village why does Kanya care about the windup? The stakes are bigger for her than just that, and perhaps this quest signifies a way to redeem herself, to side ultimately with the good guys, and perhaps stop city-wide warfare. Hock Seng also experiences a burst of hope in returning to the factory, though it’s a precarious choice at best and a deadly option at worst. Emiko, as the cause of the chaos, ironically blends in with the crowd and hides herself beneath the detritus of daily life. She also symbolizes how widespread violence can stem from a relatively minor personal matter.