How did Herland come about? The history is very unique. “at about the time of the Christian era this land had a free passage to the sea.” There were men and women. The country was larger and they had ships, commerce, an army, a king, and a bi-sexual race. Then 2000 years later there was a succession of historic misfortunes. War, invasion, and struggles to defend their mountain reduced the male population. Then there was a volcanic outburst and the result was the complete filling of the pass, their only outlet. They were walled in and very few men were left alive, except the male slaves. The slaves revolted and killed the remaining masters even the youngest boys, old women, and mothers. The young women “rose in sheer desperation and slew their brutal conquerors.” And the remaining young women and girls figured it all out!
I can accept Herland’s evolution so far, but how they continued to exist without men is a lot harder to accept. But I have to admit the writer’s creativity is a reason why the book is so enjoyable. “For five or ten years they worked together, growing stronger and wiser and more mutually attached and the miracle happened- one of these young women bore a child.” Her name was Maaia (they all have nontraditional names) and this wonder-woman bore child after child, five girls. And when these five girls reached the age of 25, they had five daughters. Herland is one family all from one mother and motherhood dominated their culture.
The power of mother-love and sister-love is the key to the success of Herland. There is no fighting or jealousy. I don’t have a sister, but I have observed that most sisters fight and mothers and daughters definitely fight. But not in Herland. At this point I am just enjoying the fiction. I can’t imagine living such a peaceful existence, but it also appears boring. I like the crazy element to my life, although world peace and no poverty or illnesses would be nice.
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