Herland

“I held a middle ground, highly scientific, of course, and used to argue learnedly about the physiological limitations of the sex.”

The three male characters each represent a different male perspective toward women, with Van representing a scientific perspective. His perspective represents the real-world scientific assumption that women were inherently inferior. However, subtle linguistic choices, such as the sarcastically stressed “highly scientific, of course,” and the past-tense, “used to,” suggest that Van’s perspective has changed. 

“It looked—well, it looked like any other country—a civilized one, I mean.”

While Herland is traditionally recognized for its feminist themes, the novel also contains a satirical depiction of racism. This arises through the three male characters’ overt racism and their consistent distinctions between the concepts of civilization and savagery.

“Here was evidently a people highly skilled, efficient, caring for their country as a florist cares for his costliest orchids. Under the soft brilliant blue of that clear sky, in the pleasant shade of those endless rows of trees, we walked unharmed, the placid silence broken only by the birds.”

This description of the setting serves two purposes. First, it contains literary devices, including imagery and sensory language, to help the reader form a mental image of the Herland town. Second, it supports the utopian genre of the text. This is demonstrated through the attractive and functional design of the land and by the fact that the men have not been met with violence despite their status as invaders, which demonstrates that the women of Herland are a peaceful race.