Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “Herland” book and the century since its publication demonstrate that time has not altered gender division and ensuing issues. Although the story’s setting is imaginative and fictional, the representation of males remains pertinent. Namely, the story is set up in a region of the undiscovered country claimed to be home to a society made up wholly of women. It is told from the perspective of Vandyck (Van) Jennings, a sociology student who creates an expedition group with two companions, Terry O. Nicholson and Jeff Margrave, to investigate the aforementioned region.
The primary protagonists and the culture they are discovering are the focus of Herland. Even before the three males join the all-female society, they are recognized for their diverse yet masculine characteristics. The descriptions of the characters and their differences are provided from the perspective of the narrating character. As such, Van mentions that “Jeff idealized women in the best Southern style. He was full of chivalry and sentiment, and all that. And he was a good boy; he lived up to his ideals” (Gilman, ch. 1). In turn, Terry is described the following way: “… a man’s man, very much so, generous and brave and clever; but I don’t think any of us in college days was quite pleased to have him with our sisters” (Gilman, ch. 1). The critical distinction between Jeff and Terry is that, whereas Jeff admires women, Terry regards them as more like toys than individuals, which Van regards as insulting and repulsive. Van does not go into much detail about himself other than claiming to be in a highly scientific compromise regarding women.
After presenting the three male students, the plot follows the adventurers as they seek the legendary female utopia. Young Ellador, Celis, and Alima welcome the explorers upon their arrival. When the males try to catch up with them, they are startled to find that the women’s rapid, smooth strides exceed their own. The elders invite them into society but are also wary of men in their female paradise. They handle the men like captives but in a remarkably thoughtful way. During their confinement, the men are appointed tutors who teach them the country’s language, customs, and history. Vandyck and Jeff work hard, wanting to learn everything possible about this intriguing area (Gilman). On the other hand, Terry fights to recover control in his confinement, becoming furious and scared.
As they get more immersed in Herland’s culture, the three men become infatuated with the young females they initially met. The three outsiders eventually married the three Herland women. The partners achieve deep emotional depths in a marriage founded on reason and equality. Only Terry attempts to rape his wife, and he is imprisoned, prosecuted for his actions, and expelled from the nation (Gilman). Vandyck and Ellador decide to follow him since Ellador is interested in learning more about Western life while Jeff refuses to leave the country.
The story’s central conflict lies in the journey of Van and his companions to become acquainted with Herland society, which confronts their perception of themselves and their knowledge of gender relations. The book contains several important symbols, one of which is the Herlandian Forest, the well-kept woodlands representing the females’ affinity with nature. Moreover, Herlandian clothing, specifically one-piece undergarments, symbolizes the Herlandian culture’s commitment to pragmatism and making the most of every resource available.
Work Cited
Gilman, Charlotte Perkins.Herland. Standard Ebooks. Web.