Curiosity, Education, and Human Nature

Throughout the book Herland, there are certain events that allow for the revealing and proof of curiosity and need for learning as part of Human Nature.  From the beginning of their journey, the men wonder how a developed civilization could exist without men, and also how the women could reproduce without them.  When Terry finally asks the question, a Somel answers, "I do not wonder you are puzzled.  We are mothers- all of us- but there are no fathers.  We thought you would ask about that long ago- why have you not (39)?"  Terry replies, saying that they wanted to know, but did not feel comfortable with the language yet to communicate their inquiries.  Just as the women anticipated the men asking the question, they also anticipated their desire to learn and provided them with a bountiful amount of books to learn and study with.  The men and women learned each other's languages so that they could communicate with one another and teach the histories of their countries.

This desire for knowledge, learning, and their curiosity stems from human nature.  The two groups quickly find out that they are different, but that does not stop human nature from managing their actions and interactions with others.   Despite their emotions of shock, the humans were not afraid of each other, but instead wanted to become closer and sort out their differences.  The commonality in a wish for knowledge and explination about an alternative way of life, as well as both side's preparedness to explain their customs manifests the presence of curiosity and a need for education in human nature.

Comparisons of Society in Herland

In her utopian novel, Charlotte Perkins Gilman uses comparisons between Herland and "our society" in order to show the frank differences between the two extreme ways of living.  The comparisons cause the characters in the story, as well as the reader, to question their societies and also the role that they have in changing and creating customs.  After many occasions of comparison and questioning to learn about each other's world, it becomes clear the discussions between the groups are disturbing to each group in their own way.  The women are genuinely disgusted by "our" culture and practices, while the men begin to query with their own ways of life and are embarrassed to admit that this is how they live.  Eventually, it is revealed through the groups' interactions that the customs of Herland are clearly superior and more rational than "ours".

When the men question the women about how they reproduce, the topic gradually moves towards cattle as an example of how important the two sexes, male and female, are to each other and also to the community.  Jeff easily and naturally explains, "We keep cattle for their milk, as well as for their meat.  Cow's milk is a staple article of diet.  There is a great milk industry- to collect and distribute it (41)."  He states the process as a fact; one that would ideally be accepted by all, but when the women question this new information, the men begin to realize that their ways of living are rather irrational and absurd.  Vandyck narrates, "It took some time to make clear to those three sweet-faced women the process which the cow of her calf, and the calf of its true food...They heard it out, looking very white, and presently begged to be excused (41)."  Because of this response from the women, the men are embarrassed and begin to question their lives and if the women are superior to them.

Herland Motif: Female Agility and Physicality

In the beginning of Herland, the three explorers, Jeff, Terry, and Vandyck enter the island with a preconceived idea of male chauvinism present and the belief that they could easily coax the women into letting them explore and study their island and civilization.  However, when they get there, the group of men quickly find that their belief of male superiority in terms of physicality is completely false.  Their first encounter with the women of Herland brings them into a dangerous chase to talk to them involving climbing trees and jumping from one to another.  Vandyck narrates, "As we climbed we could catch glimpses of them scattering above us.  By the time we had reached about as far as three men together dared push, they had left the main trunk and moved outward, each one balanced on a long branch that dipped and swayed beneath the weight (12)."  This narration shows that the men, even when armed as a group, were afraid to venture up the tree as the women had done.  The men were surprised at the agility and quickness of the women, proving their previous conclusions false.


Once the men began to get to know and trust the women more, they are eager to learn the language of the women and to be able to communicate clearly with them.  Their teachers lead them into a gymnasium where the women exercise daily in an unconventional, yet effective way.  Vandyck says, "Terry was the strongest of us, though I was wiry and had good staying power, and Jeff was a great sprinter and hurdler, but I can tell you those old ladies gave us cards and spades.  They ran like deer, by which I mean that they ran not as if it was a performance, but as if it was the natural gait.  We remembered those fleeting girls of our first bright adventure, and concluded that it was (28)."  With these words, Vandyck admits that even amongst the presence of agile men, the women around them are far more superior in terms of athleticism and physicality.  He comments on how natural their actions seem, and this shows that when women are free and believe that they are strong as opposed to being put down and called weak like in a traditional society, they become more capable of achieving this high level of strength.

Herland Oppression of Women

In the book Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, the author closely follows the guidelines of Realism novels in that her book features a power struggle between men and women.  During Realism, it was believed that men were far superior to women, and that men could control women, who were expected to obey their husbands and other men.  Herland details the story of a group of men who adventure into a female Utopia with the preconceived notion that since the island is rather impressive in its level of civilization, there must be men there running the island.  In the beginning of the book, the author shows the beliefs of superiority through some of the men's impulsive decision to venture into the island without preparing for conflict with the women.  Despite the tour guides warning that it was "Dangerous, deadly, for any man to go there," and that it was a "strange country where no men lived-only women and girl children," the curiosity and proudness amongst the men led them to explore the island.

The fact that the men intruded the women's land shows that there was still an idea of male chauvinism present in society.  The group of men are leery about going to the island not because of the women, but because of the threat of men that may be there.  Jeff says, "There may be a contingent of gentlemen with poisoned arrows or something"(Gilman, 6).  This shows that the men are weary about facing men, but not women.  However, as the day that they go to the island gets closer, they start to realize that the women may be a bigger threat than they thought.  When they reach the island, they see women and the trees moving gracefully and fearlessly.  After the encounter with the women, Terry expresses his lusting of the women, saying, "Mother of Mike, boys- what Gorgeous Girls!  To climb like that!  To run like that!  And afraid of nothing.  This country suits me all right.  Let's get ahead"(Gilman, 15).  Terry's remark reveals that men are attracted to women if they will be of assistance or provide pleasure to them.  The changing view that the men have of the women on the island represent the slow change from a misogynist society to one where assumptions about women are struck down and their true value is able to be seen by all people.

Snake

In the poem, "The Snake," the author talks about a snake's actions- how it climbed out of the shade and on a stone to dry, and then quickly disappeared- and then says that he longs to be like the snake.  In the poem, the snake is a symbol of American authors and their ascent to approval by Americans, as well as their descent from popularity.  When the snake "glide[s] out of the mottled shade," it is illustrating the way that authors slowly begin to come into the light where readers can see them and their work.  The snake is on a stone and perched above the ground which shows the superiority and powerfulness of the authors, but also their vulnerability to being critiqued and not accepted.  In the illustration, the snake is in a striking position, showing that it is ready to attack, and this can show that once authors reach the top, they are ready and willing to defend their works.  The speakers tells his audience how the snake slowly "drew away" and then how it quickly left.  This is a representation of how American authors become less popular and then leave when there are changes in the time periods of American Literature.  Right before the snake leaves, the author talks about the snake's shadow, and this shadow is a symbol of the impact that the author had on Americans and American Literature.  The shadow may be big or small, but it is always there.  In the illustration, the snake has a small shadow, but the contrast between the shadow and the rest of the picture is great, showing the big impact that authors can have on American Literature.  Also, the snake is casting a shadow on himself, which shows that authors triumphs and struggles impact their own selves and that they can learn from each of these.  The last two stanzas are the speaker talking about his longing to be the snake, which shows that there were many American authors who wanted to be heard and accepted or famous.  In the illustration, the landscape in the background creates the shape on an incline, and shows the "hill" that American authors have to climb in order to be recognized for the work.  The last line says, "And I may be, some time," and displays the hope and optimism about their futures that lies in Americans.