Looking Backward by Edward Bellamy Essay -- utopia, insomia patient, go

Essay Option 2: Looking Backward: Government and power imbalance from 1887 – 2000 The vision and ideas in Bellamy’s book Looking Backward that stronger government would create a utopian society were mainly related to the power imbalance developing in the gilded age, the ideas of social theorists like Henry George, workers’ rights movements known as unions and the actions of government leaders in the 19th century. In Bellamy’s book, a major theme in Julian’s journey through the year 2000 and throughout the comparison between 1887 and 2000 is that there is a vision of strong government control over multiple aspects of life more so in the dream 2000 than had been in 1887. Many of those included jobs, education, shopping and business related commercial aspects and people’s daily lives. The most important aspects of life that the government controlled were Jobs and Education because without those, there is no society. Looking Backward is about Julian West, a thirty-year-old insomnia patient born into the 1800’s. During the 19th century, the majority of the world was impoverished and the wealthy people wanted to help but they believed that there was no way to do so without losing their wealth. Julian planned to marry his fiancà ©, Edith Bartlett when their house was built but there were many builder strikes going on at the time and the house wasn’t going to be built for another year. Decoration day was a holiday that had honored union workers and Julian celebrated this holiday with Edith’s family. Due to Julian’s insomnia, he had built a secret sleeping chamber underground to aid in proper sleep. Dr. Pillsbury put Julian to sleep every night but was offered a new job and had to leave. Julian was in such a deep sleep that night and wa... ...d age, the ideas of social theorists like Henry George, workers’ rights movements known as unions and the actions of government leaders in the 19th century. In Bellamy’s book, a major theme in Julian’s journey through the year 2000 and throughout the comparison between 1887 and 2000 is that there is a vision of strong government control over multiple aspects of life more so in the dream 2000 than had been in 1887. Many of those included jobs, education, shopping and business related commercial aspects and people’s daily lives. After looking deeper into the book, the most important and frequently mentioned aspects of life were Jobs and Education because without those, there is no ability to have a higher functioning society beyond poverty and day laborers. Works Cited 1. Edward Bellamy, Looking Backward: 2000 to 1887 2. Retrieving the American Past