Cold Magic
The author figuratively uses cold magic to symbolize the battle of the sexes in the story "The Snow Women." The snow women from the North use witchcraft to control their husbands, especially when they go to trade in the North. Whenever northern men travel to the Cold Corner, they get entertained by naked southern dancing women. In such shows, women and children are prohibited. To ensure their men do not fall for the southern girls, the snow women use cold magic to control them. The author also reveals that the northern men push their wives to the extreme because they are only required to give birth and care for children. Consequently, the snow women are at war with their men because they look forward to getting their freedom. The author also shows that the snow women gang up and attack men who walk alone in the frozen snow to express their frustration.
The symbolism of civilization
Vlana, a southern dancing girl confronted and hit with snowballs by the snow women, symbolizes civilization. Vlana is a civilized girl from the south who does not find it a big deal to dance naked to entertain men. The southern women have freedom of choice and expression, unlike the snow women from the North, who are restricted to their homes. Therefore, when the snow women encounter Vlana, they pummel her with snowballs leaving her with injuries. Fafhrd rescues her and nurses her injuries until she recovers. Because Fafhrd is yearning for civilization, he starts a sexual affair with Vlan despite knowing he is married to Mara, a snow woman with his child.
Betrayal
Betrayal is symbolized by Vlan's action to escape with a different man leaving Fafhrd unaware. Vlan and Fafhrd are having a sexual affair, and they have been making plans to escape from the Cold Corner together. However, Vlan meets another man and escapes with him. When Fafhrd discovers that Vlan has escaped with another man, he follows her using a rocket and catches up with her. The magic of Mor kills the man who escaped with Vlan, but Fafhrd manages to save Vlan. She apologizes for her treacherous act, and they reunite again; she confesses that she sticks by him because he is the most protective man she has ever met.
