Herland · Chapter
X: Their Religions and Our Marriages explained
Van describes his growing understanding of Herland's religion, which deifies motherhood and is based on a pervasive, loving power rather than a punitive deity.
What happens
Van describes his growing understanding of Herland's religion, which deifies motherhood and is based on a pervasive, loving power rather than a punitive deity. He contrasts this with Christianity's concepts of God, damnation, and sacrifice, which horrify Ellador. The chapter also covers the men's discussions about marriage with the Herland women, culminating in a triple wedding ceremony that emphasizes love and partnership over possession.
Themes in this chapter
Religion and Ethics
Contrasts Herland's loving, immanent Mother Spirit with Christianity's punitive, patriarchal God, highlighting different ethical frameworks.
Love, Marriage, and Sexuality
Explores the men's attempts to impose traditional marriage customs and the women's resistance to possession and name-changing.
Motherhood and Social Motherhood
Herland's religion is rooted in deified motherhood, shaping their ethics and view of divine love as nurturing and non-punitive.
Characters to notice
- Van
Narrator who reflects on Herland's religion and his relationship with Ellador.
- Ellador
Van's partner; she is deeply disturbed by Christian concepts of damnation and seeks comfort in the temple.
- Terry O. Nicholson
Resistant to Herland's views on fatherhood and marriage; insists on traditional possession-based marriage.
- Jeff Margrave
Advocates for a Quaker-style wedding ceremony and expresses devotion to Celis.
- Alima
Questions the concept of a wife belonging to a man and refuses to change her name.
- Celis
Engaged to Jeff; she values being loved for herself and not for any material gift.
Key passages
“Have you no respect for the past? For what was thought and believed by your foremothers? 'Why, no,' she said. 'Why should we? They are all gone. They knew less than we do. If we are not beyond them, we are unworthy of them—and unworthy of the children who must go beyond us.'”
Ellador explains that Herland values progress over tradition; they do not revere past beliefs because they aim to surpass them for the sake of future generations.
Highlights Herland's forward-looking, non-conservative attitude toward religion and knowledge.
“What is a 'wife' exactly? she demanded, a dangerous gleam in her eye. 'A wife is the woman who belongs to a man,' he began. But Jeff took it up eagerly: 'And a husband is the man who belongs to a woman.'”
Alima questions the definition of 'wife,' and Terry's possessive answer is countered by Jeff's more egalitarian view of mutual belonging.
Illustrates the clash between patriarchal marriage ideals and Herland's egalitarian perspective.
“We have no punishments in life, you see, so we don't imagine them after death.”
Ellador explains that Herland's lack of earthly punishment leads to a religion without concepts of hell or eternal damnation.
Shows how Herland's social practices directly shape their religious beliefs.