Future Visions of America in Looking Backward by Edward Bellamy

For decades, Looking Backward has been an influential novel since it focuses on the idea of social reform. The novel’s publication was in 1888 during an era when most Americans were afraid of violence associated with the working class. Another relevant aspect that disgusted a majority of individuals in public was the idea that conspicuous consumption is only for the privileged minorities in the American society. Intense demonstrations commenced following the emergence of labor unions, as well as large trusts that became a central factor in the nation’s economy. Arguably, the author managed to make the novel extraordinarily popular among the middle-class by painting a portrait of Americans who behold the possibilities of a desirable future.

The late-nineteenth century was a turning point for American society, economics and politics. This era was an era of seeming prosperity and diversity. Nonetheless, there were many perspectives that were omitted from this prosperous and wealthy view shared among the few. As a result, the late 1800s was known as the Gilded Age, named by Mark Twain as an allusion to the concept of something that is seemingly pleasantly plated with gold on the outside, but rotten to the core. This Gilded Age, in essence, was a period of rapid growth of industry in the American North and West. This industrialization brought many benefits, however, along with the benefits for the select few, it also saw heavier persecution and exploitation against those who were

One of the most notable times during the late 19th century was the Gilded Age. This is a term often used to describe this time period since from the outside looking in urban life in America seemed perfect, but in reality, many citizens did not like the changes that were occurring. Since the verb gild means to cover with or as if with a thin coating of gold[1], historians often refer to this time period as “the Gilded Age”. New ideals about poverty, social reforms, different political approaches, and a new women’s culture brought forth political, economic, social, and cultural changes in urban growth during the

During the rise of industrialization, the United States had just ended the Civil War and was starting to move on. People had an aspiration at this time to make a more than decent living for themselves, and the economy was at the right spot for this to be possible. This time period in American History is referred to as the Gilded Age, termed by the famous author Mark Twain, which simply means covered in gold; however, Twain did not necessarily mean this in a good way. He believed right under the surface of this gold plating was still problems with the American society that didn’t look so appealing. This essay will discuss how practices during the rise of industrialization during the Gilded Age shaped the American work and labor force.

Following the end of the Civil War, the Gilded Age began a period in America’s history from 1870-1898 that transformed the industrial system and economy. While industry had been in the works before the war, the American economy was mainly dominated by agriculture. Advancements in technology and more efficient ways of organizing business expanded industry and drove few individuals to the top of the social pyramid. Presidents, Congress, and the Courts supported the success, but besides the small population of economic elite, there was massive poverty. On the political level, leadership was lacking. Corruption created a wildfire that spread throughout cities, states, and the national government. The government’s ignorance to the problems hidden

The book Looking Backward was written by Edward Bellamy and published in the year 1888. Bellamy started off his career as a journalist but then married and decided to devote his efforts to writing fiction novels. Looking Backward was published and Bellamy was famous. The book stirred around the country and had people imagining a world like the one Bellamy created in his book. The idea of a utopia as the one he describes is unbelievable. His book is what people, of even now in the twenty first century, wish the world could possible be like. However, Bellamy's world of reasoning and judging of people based on the inner beliefs was not what people of then or now do. Bellamy's book showed a world of rationality being

From 1865 to 1900, the American industry paved the way for an era like none that has been seen before. The country built and invented more supplies and materials than anyone had thought possible. Even though, this time in history seemed progressive on many fronts, it was known as the “Gilded Age”. The Gilded Age was a three decade time in America that involved an expanding economy and a useless government. The thought of going to an American city, getting a job, and getting paid was ideal to most outsiders. The problem was, once they arrived and found a job, it was not as wonderful as it seemed . It was called the Gilded Age because, from the outside, everything looked wonderful, but on the inside it was spoiled. During America’s

Without a doubt, the gilded era mocks a political corruption in post–Civil War in America. The term Glided era deserves the title for its rotten underlying system, marked by monopoly and oligopoly system, where the wealthy became richer and the poor disfavored. Although great economic growth occurred through railroads, technology, and industries, the working class was brainwashed to accept the idea of social Darwinism while the great tycoons like Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, and Carnegie would get the biggest piece of the pie while controlling the worker’s class. The government’s laissez-faire’s attitude generated corrupted politics, whom considered only their personal interests. In other words, America was controlled by the wealthy and corrupted

After the Civil War and Reconstruction, America rapidly shifted from agriculture to a more industrialized economy. Coined by Mark Twain, the term “Gilded Age” referred to the opportunistic but brutal period that catapulted America’s economy to the world stage. During this time, many people came to the United States looking for a better life, but only few accomplished this. The influx of immigrants into America were following the ‘American Dream’, the idea that America’s wealth could be shared by many, given one’s hard-willed labor. Although the Gilded Age positively developed America as a world competitor, it came at the expense of the people due to corruption between businesses and the government, as well as divided the social classes, not

The late 19th century experienced the birth of a modern society dubbed the Gilded Age by writer Mark Twain. America witnessed the growth of big business, a population explosion of immigrants and the creation of labor movements. However, the Expansion and transformation of America often came at a cost to the American Citizen. It has been said, “The glitter of the gilded age covered a multitude of sins.” Evidence supports the validity of this statement. Although The Gilded Age (1870-1900) produced economic prosperity due to the growth of big business, extreme individual wealth, and increased immigrant population, it was littered with big business greed and corruption, unreasonable

After the Civil War, the United States underwent a period of reconstruction. From the time of 1877 to 1890, the US economy grew exponentially, wealthy business owners like Rockefeller and Vanderbilt built American cities and railroads, and immigrants from all over the world flooded into the country. However, during this period America also faced great amount of poverty, terrible working conditions, mass political corruptions, and a destruction of civil rights for African Americans, women, and immigrants. Mark Twain marked this period as the “Gilded Age” because everything seemed to be going well for the United States, but behind all the accomplishments made, there was more misfortune for many Americans during this time. The greatest

Set in the late 19th and early 21th century, Looking Backwards is a utopian novel discussing the advantages of socialism, a political philosophy that many disenchanted intellectuals of the 19th century believed in. Edward Bellamy, the author, is included in that class of

Looking Backward, a story by Edward Bellamy, tells the story of a young man, Julien West. Julien lives in Boston, Massachusetts during the 19th century, a time that is struggling with social equality. Julien then falls into a deep hypnosis sleep, and wakes up in the 20th century. He is in the same place as before, but yet it seems like a whole new world to him. In this new era, every citizen is equal. They receive the same amount of money and education, and no one is poverty stricken. To Julien, and also Bellamy, this is the perfect world and the solution to all the world’s problems.

Bellamy's "Looking Backward" shows how Americans during the late 19th century disregard any optimistic and utopian thinking of the future. Bellamy knew that the 19th century audience would be inimical to any change to the current economic and social practices therefore he had a difficult task in persuading the readers to consider his fictional ideal society. To do so, he had to place his utopian vision of the future within the context of the ‘rational’ 19th century beliefs so that the readers can compare and contrast his proposals for social and economic reforms.

Looking Backward, written by Edward Bellamy in 1888, highlights the trials and tribulations that make up the social and economic systems of nineteenth-century society by writing an optimistic utopian type novel. On the surface, the novel is the story of time traveler Julian West, a young conservative Bostonian who was hypnotized in the late 19th century and awakens to a completely restructured society set in the year 2000. In lengthy conversations with Doctor Leete, the man who finds him, he discovers a vivid vision of a perfect future, one that was merely unthinkable in his own century. Doctor Leete shows him around the modern Boston landscape and Julian becomes instantly astonished to see a beautiful, clean and structured city with open spaces and striking public buildings. Bellamy’s novel proposes ideas that an economy based on publicly owned capital would solve many social equality issues. In contrast, Kirk Savage, author of, Standing Soldiers, Kneeling Slaves: Race, War, and Monument in Nineteenth-Century America explores the harsh reality of a slave society during the post civil war era in terms of race, war, and monuments. Savage illustrates how this historic time period was told in a public space. The ideas displayed in Bellamy’s utopian system would struggle and ultimately fail to solve the specific aspects of the social, racial, and economic world that Savage realistically portrays.