"Looking Backward"

Paper Summary:

This paper compares and contrasts three areas of Bellamy's utopian future with the realities of late-nineteenth century life. It explains how Bellamy's work represents the belief in "Progress" so prevalent in the late nineteenth century. The writer shows how Bellamy predicts that the future utopian society will depend on rational organization rather than technical innovation, to succeed and grow. Yet is shows that by the year 2000, exactly the opposite occurred, and our society is far from utopian.

From the Paper:

"When Bellamy wrote "Looking Backward" "was the most popular book at the turn of the century, printed in many millions of copies in the United States, translated into over twenty languages" (Bellamy v). The future seemed a long way away, and yet here it is. "The impact of Looking Backward is, to a large extent, due to the remarkable vision of the book, its poignant criticism of nineteenth-century society, and its attractive style." (Bellamy vi). He writes the story as if he is looking back at the 19th century from the year 2000, making a distinct commentary on the past, while praising what has occurred in the future. Incredibly, he has "slept" one hundred and thirteen years, and is now in the year 2000, looking back at his own antiquated society and ahead at the city of Boston as he sees it in 2000."

More papers on "Looking Backward":

• Book Review # 65410 : "Looking Backward"
• Analytical Essay # 64176 : "Looking Backward: 200-1887"
• Analytical Essay # 28117 : "Looking Backward: 2000-1887"

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