# Somel — Herland character guide

> Somel in Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.

**Role:** supporting

**First appearance:** 0004-v-a-unique-history

## Snapshot

A Herland educator who patiently unfolds her country's history and applied religion to the baffled male visitors.

## Who they are

Somel delivers the long lessons that explain how Herland came to be—its motherly theology, its ethics of patience and courtesy, its conviction that cleanliness, health, and beauty are themselves worship. She is practical rather than mystical, working out what conduct a Loving Power would expect and then living accordingly. Through her lectures the men, and the reader, receive the intellectual architecture of a civilization built without men.

## Relationships

### [Terry O. Nicholson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/herland_se/characters/terry_o_nicholson)

_professional_

Somel, as a wise and patient educator, interacts with Terry to instruct him about Herland's culture, often clashing with his arrogance.

### [Jeff Margrave](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/herland_se/characters/jeff_margrave)

_friendship_

Jeff and Somel develop a warm, respectful friendship based on their shared intellectual curiosity and gentle natures.

### [Zava](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/herland_se/characters/zava)

_professional_

Somel and Zava are colleagues and leaders in Herland, working together to educate and manage the male visitors.

### [Terry O. Nicholson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/herland_se/characters/terry_o_nicholson)

_professional_

Somel, as a wise and patient educator, interacts with Terry to instruct him about Herland's culture, often clashing with his arrogance.

### [Terry O. Nicholson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/herland_se/characters/terry_o_nicholson)

_professional_

Somel, as a wise and patient educator, interacts with Terry to instruct him about Herland's culture, often clashing with his arrogance.

### [Jeff Margrave](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/herland_se/characters/jeff_margrave)

_friendship_

Jeff and Somel develop a warm, respectful friendship based on their shared intellectual curiosity and gentle natures.

### [Jeff Margrave](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/herland_se/characters/jeff_margrave)

_friendship_

Jeff and Somel develop a warm, respectful friendship based on their shared intellectual curiosity and gentle natures.

## In the story

### [A Peculiar Imprisonment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/herland_se/chapters/iii-a-peculiar-imprisonment)

Implied as one of the tutors or guards, as Jeff is on excellent terms with his tutor.

### [Our Venture](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/herland_se/chapters/iv-our-venture)

Somel is one of the tutors, calm and wise. She explains Herland's history and the absence of men, and she is eager to learn about the outside world.

### [A Unique History](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/herland_se/chapters/v-a-unique-history)

Asks thoughtful questions about the world's work and the meaning of 'home'; acts as a tutor and cultural interpreter.

### [VI: Comparisons Are Odious](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/herland_se/chapters/vi-comparisons-are-odious)

Provides Van with further explanation about Herland's history and population control, and reassures the men that the people want to see them.

### [VII: Our Growing Modesty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/herland_se/chapters/vii-our-growing-modesty)

Patiently explains Herland's approach to motherhood and child-rearing, describing how they 'breed out' undesirable traits and entrust education only to the most fit.

### [Expelled](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/herland_se/chapters/xii-expelled)

Provides insight into Herland's perspective on Terry's actions, reinforcing the society's horror at his behavior.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/herland_se/characters/somel
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/herland_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/herland_se/characters