# Van — Herland character guide

> Van in Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Van, Essa

**First appearance:** 0000-i-a-not-unnatural-enterprise

## Snapshot

The sociologist narrator who studies Herland with a scholar's eye and finds his own assumptions unraveling as he falls for Ellador.

## Who they are

Van chronicles the expedition and the country itself, moving between field notes and confession as he tries to explain his own civilization honestly to a woman who cannot feel its evils. He loves Ellador and dreads taking her back to a world of corruption, disease, and prisons she has only read about. His struggle to bridge the two cultures—and to reckon with Terry's fate—gives the novel its reflective, self-implicating voice.

## Relationships

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

_friendship_

Terry and Van are fellow explorers and friends, but Van often serves as a mediator between Terry's impulsiveness and Jeff's idealism.

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

_friendship_

Jeff and Van are close friends and fellow explorers, with Jeff's idealism complementing Van's more pragmatic outlook.

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

_friendship_

Terry and Van are fellow explorers and friends, but Van often serves as a mediator between Terry's impulsiveness and Jeff's idealism.

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

_friendship_

Jeff and Van are close friends and fellow explorers, with Jeff's idealism complementing Van's more pragmatic outlook.

## In the story

### [A Not Unnatural Enterprise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/herland_se/chapters/i-a-not-unnatural-enterprise)

The narrator and sociologist, who reflects on the expedition and the legends of Woman Land.

### [II: Rash Advances](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/herland_se/chapters/ii-rash-advances)

The narrator; observes the women's calm intelligence and physical strength, participates in the failed escape attempt, and is anesthetized.

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

Intensely interested in the language and culture, he studies the women's differences and tries to dissuade Terry from the risky escape.

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

Van is the narrator and observer, noting the women's wisdom and patience. He finds humor in their failed escape and is curious about Herland's history.

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

Narrates the history; finds the intellectual interest absorbing; sides increasingly with Jeff against Terry's views.

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

Narrates the chapter, reflects on Herland's social organization and the women's concept of motherhood, and attempts to explain his own society's economic struggles.

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

Narrates the chapter, observes Terry's decline in esteem, and directly asks Somel about Herland's faults, seeking to understand their civilization.

### [The Girls of Herland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/herland_se/chapters/viii-the-girls-of-herland)

Van is the narrator and philosopher of the group. He finds more success with Ellador because he seems 'more like us' (the Herland women), and he reflects on the differences in courtship and social expectations.

### [IX: Our Relations and Theirs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/herland_se/chapters/ix-our-relations-and-theirs)

Narrator; reflects on Herland's child-rearing and contrasts it with his own culture; in a deep, restful relationship with Ellador.

### [X: Their Religions and Our Marriages](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/herland_se/chapters/x-their-religions-and-our-marriages)

Narrator who reflects on Herland's religion and his relationship with Ellador.

### [Our Difficulties](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/herland_se/chapters/xi-our-difficulties)

Van acts as a moderate, analytical narrator, using reason to navigate the cultural divide; he develops a deep, companionate friendship with Ellador.

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

Narrator who deeply reflects on the differences between Herland and his own society, grows to love Ellador, and decides to stay with her.

## Links

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