A Positive Romance 1898

"A Positive Romance" by Edward Bellamy is a story from the end of the 1800s that looks at how men and women relate to each other. It's particularly interested in how men see women as perfect or almost god-like. The story thinks about how people show respect and look up to each other based on their gender, using ideas from Positivism to help understand these relationships. The central character, Hammond, tells the story of how he used to be involved with Positivism and a key event involving his professor, Régnier, a follower of Auguste Comte. Through conversations, Hammond ponders what it really means for men to idolize women, telling of a life-changing meeting with Régnier's daughter. At first, he expects her to be physically beautiful, but he soon understands that truly respecting women goes beyond looks, as he identifies the deep care and giving that women stand for. Ultimately, the book thinks about what makes up true femininity, the nature of love, and how society influences personal connections