Bellamy’s goal in writing Looking Backwards was chiefly to push forward his socialist beliefs. Based on the popularity of his work it is fair to say that he succeeded. He accomplished this by portraying a society that has shared capitol, while also not restricting individual freedoms. This was the key point that inspired the creation of nationalist political groups. In the nineteenth century, socialism was something that inspired worry in capitalistic societies. Despite this, Bellamy was able to successfully push his ideals by presenting them in a relatable way for his audience. Julian serves as the conduit for this by being an outsider in this society just as the reader is.
Bellamy also makes his ideas more palatable for his readers by including the sexism that was present during the nineteenth century. In his utopian world, women’s rights remain restricted. Each gender elects their own leaders, but men are the only ones capable of retaining the office of presidency. While women and men receive the same amount of credit each year, men remain fundamentally in control.
Bellamy also supports his ideas by pointing out positive changes in society. Equal opportunity for education and work practically eliminate crime from society. Also, with every job offering the same monetary gains, people choose jobs best suited for their skills. A direct result of this is the progression of art and literature, as the only factor dictating an artist’s success is talent.
Based on the world response to this novel, Bellamy was successful in his presentation of his views by fitting it to his audiences beliefs.
I agree that Bellamy was trying to spread his socialist ideals during a time of great economic and social disorder in America. He created this fictional future in order to show his audience of struggling Americans the possible benefits of socialism. Although he never directly talks about socialism, he does mention many socialist aspects of the future utopia through the eyes of Julian who is relatable to the reader. He talks about the socialist characteristics of the future America with a tone of gratitude and purposely has Julian realize how much better life is in this new world.
The new utopian society clearly have elements of socialism society. The fact that in the future which people are completely equal with same income, and the country will allocate resources instead of people purchasing them. Bellamy provided the readers his imagination of a socialism society, and it leaves to the reader to consider whether or not it is the right form.
Bellamy wants readers to identify with Julian because he understands the radicalism of his ideas. The way he treats race, gender, and religion, which are largely missing, shows his desire to avoid controversial topics of the late nineteenth century. When he does discuss those subjects, he maintains his nineteenth-century bias, which presumably, would not upset his readers.
Looking Backward is indeed a very interesting read and is successful in promoting his socialist ideas. However, when we look at the world today, there is quite a bit of irony in relation to the utopian society that Julian finds himself in when he wakes up from suspended animation. The novel was published in 1888. We still have war and poverty. The rate of crime as well the types of crime has increased.
I agree that Bellamy was successful in his presentation of his views. Indirectly, Bellamy was able to propose socialism as a viable solution to societal problems in the nineteenth century. I also think that he made Julian relatable for the readers to get his point across to a larger audience.
I agree that Julian was made relatable to the readers to help get Bellamy’s point across. If Julian was not from the 1880s, readers would have struggled to acknowledge his experience in comparing 1887 to 2000. Without living in a time of economic turmoil, Julian West would have been unable to appreciate the better society of 2000.
I don’t think that the sexism in Looking Backwards is there to placate the readers as it is a product of the time. While Bellamy was no doubt progressive for his time, he was still living in the 19th century and probably held some social views that might be regressive for his day.
I agree that Bellamy effectively made his work much more appealing to readers of his time by not making it entirely radical. He balances the strangeness of socialist as opposed to a capitalistic society by leaving in the normal gender politics. He doesn’t try to entirely flip the reader of his time on their heads by depicting a world completely disjointed from their own, he changes what is absolutely necessary to his plot and themes, and that which is necessary to his ideas are not messed with.