Herland

Charlotte Perkins Gilman (yes, of “The Yellow Wall-Paper” fame) wrote a feminist utopia called Herland in 1915.  Three American men, hearing a rumor of an all-female society, set out to investigate the truth of the matter.  Sure enough, they find the women of Herland, whose geographical seclusion has kept secret the general knowledge of their existence.  That they’ve had several centuries to perfect their physical form, education system, and society–plus the fact that they don’t have a proper sense of masculinity or femininity–makes this novel surprisingly funny.

Of course, it’s plenty boring, too, because not much happens in paradise, a problem that has always made the portion of Gulliver’s Travels in which Gulliver visits the Houyhnhnms so dull.  At least the last half of the novel is expository dialogue in which the narrator, having come to be ashamed of American society, extols the virtues of the more civilized, logical, and enlightened women.  The most interesting character, contrary to Gilman’s intent, I think, is Terry, a “man’s man” who is driven mad by the citizens of Herland and refuses to acclimate to their worldview.

One of the most interesting results of this female society is that while motherhood is naturally the most honored estate, the closest thing the women have to a class system, the rearing and education of children is undertaken by those women most suited to the task–not necessarily the children’s mothers.  This apparent lack of maternal sensibility is explained by the knowledge that all the women’s work is for all the children’s benefit, an interesting claim in light of Gilman’s biography (she amicably allowed her daughter to be raised by her ex-husband and his second wife).

All in all, it was an interesting two hours’ read, and I can’t imagine why I had never taken the time before.  I’m excited to discuss it in class next week: there is certainly lots to say about it.