Herland · Chapter
II: Rash Advances explained
The three men, Terry, Jeff, and Van, attempt to explore the unknown land of women but are quickly surrounded and captured by a calm, organized group of athletic women.
What happens
The three men, Terry, Jeff, and Van, attempt to explore the unknown land of women but are quickly surrounded and captured by a calm, organized group of athletic women. After a brief struggle and Terry firing his revolver, they are overpowered, carried inside a large stone building, and anesthetized. Earlier, they had cautiously traveled through a cultivated forest, spotting elusive young women in the trees, which only heightened their curiosity and sense of adventure.
Themes in this chapter
Gender Roles and Social Organization
The chapter subverts traditional gender roles: women are calm, organized, and physically powerful, while the men are 'three audacious impertinent boys' who are easily overpowered.
Cooperation vs. Competition
The women act as a unified, cooperative group ('all moved by precisely the same feelings, to the same end'), contrasting with the men's individualistic and competitive approach.
Nature vs. Civilization
The forest is described as a cultivated 'truck farm' with trained vines and carved stone seats, blurring the line between wild nature and human civilization.
Characters to notice
- Terry O. Nicholson
Leads the group with bravado, fires his revolver in defiance, and is ultimately overpowered and anesthetized.
- Jeff Margrave
Advocates for peaceful compliance, describes the women as 'nice women' with 'good strong sensible faces,' and is carried inside with the others.
- Van
The narrator; observes the women's calm intelligence and physical strength, participates in the failed escape attempt, and is anesthetized.
- Alima
One of the young women glimpsed in the trees; described as a 'peacherino' by Terry, she flees upward with the others.
- Ellador
One of the young women glimpsed in the trees; flees upward with the others, observed by the men.
- Celis
One of the young women glimpsed in the trees; flees upward with the others, observed by the men.
Key passages
“our discussions and speculations we had always unconsciously assumed that the women, whatever else they might be, would be young. Most men do think that way, I fancy. “Woman” in the abstract is young, and, we assume, charming.”
The men had always imagined the women would be young and attractive, reflecting a common male assumption.
Highlights the men's preconceived notions about women.
“We seemed to think that if there were men we could fight them, and if there were only women—why, they would be no obstacles at all.”
The men believed women would pose no challenge, but they were proven wrong.
Illustrates the men's initial arrogance and underestimation of the women.
“The solidity of those women was something amazing. Terry soon found that it was useless, tore himself loose for a moment, pulled his revolver, and fired upward.”
The women's physical resistance was so strong that Terry resorted to firing his gun in desperation.
Shows the women's unexpected strength and Terry's escalating response.