@silverwizard
I don't think I can/should save Sandman for you but I have some thoughts.
To your question, you're referring to "That is a woman's tale, not told to men?" I'd never thought of it that way, but that's a fair reading.
But yes, we are supposed to judge Morpheus harshly for this and it is the beginning of the long arc of him realizing what a shit he's been, and trying to fix it.
As for the shock stuff, that's worst in the early issues. I think [contd]