A review by honeymonster
Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

adventurous hopeful reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

This story of a utopian society containing only women is interesting, but frustrating. Mainly frustrating. The idea that a society of women would be entirely peaceful and industrious, focused almost entirely on motherhood and completely without sexual desire REALLY gets on my nerves. It shows you more the limitation of the author's life experience and thinking than anything else.

Also,
the narrator's insistence that marital rape is fine and even expected is just gross and makes him entirely unsympathetic
right at the end of the story.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings