Freedom is depicted as the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action. Bellamy envision a utopian society where the people did their best for the good of society rather than individual gain and everyone believed in equality on the basis of humanity.
The writer describes the nineteenth century as a society where business was conducted by large capitalist through formation of monopolies for profit maximization since small business traders were, either forced to join large corporations or out of operation. The writer says, “small businesses existed in fields too small to attract the great capitalists”. However, in the future individuals participate in fields where they are naturally gifted. He imagines a community where the occupation of an individual was not only free of interference from the administration but also on the basis of merit and natural ability. Moreover, in the future there are no salaries based on prestige attached to the occupation but on the basis of humanity. Doctor Leete says, "that the right of a man to maintenance at the nation's table depends on the fact that he is a man”.
The future portrays a society free of corruption. He states that it is impossible to have corruption in a community where there is neither poverty to be bribed nor wealth to bribe. He goes on to say “Let him be as bad an official as you please, he cannot be a corrupt one”. Misuse of power a common feature of the nineteenth century was also a long forgotten vice of old. The writer outlines that the organization of the society in the nineteenth century was such that officials were under temptation to abuse power for private profit. He describes the future society as one free of crime since we are told that law schools don’t exist as lawyers are not needed and any offence is settled by retired and distinguished members of the society.
Individualism, the theme of the century of industrial change is but far from the communism of the future. The underprivileged members of society in the future are given the highest priority in society rather than charity as the case used to be. Doctor Leete even asks whether a person with a sick brother would give him preference rather than feed him poorly. He then concludes, “the only coin current is the image of God, and that is good for all we have.”
The nineteenth century portrays a society where women were denied their basic rights. The writer says that women even looked at marriage as a way of escaping poverty. However, the future shows a society where there is equality in opportunity to both genders. He imagines a society where both genders contribute equally to the nation. The writer says, “The independence of women I can see for myself.” Women of the future also have the freedom to speak out and express their feelings of love unlike in the previous century where they had to hide their feelings. Freedom from dependency has also been achieved as the writer says women are free from men and men from other men, a perfect society.
In the nineteenth century, the society is divided on basis of how affluent an individual is. In a conversation between the writer and Edith, she says that the music worth listening was not only out of the reach of the masses, but also only attainable by the most favored occasionally. On the contrary, in the future the same music was available freely to all citizens.
The future points to a community where educational injustices of private capitalist era were eradicated. Doctor Leete even says, “We hold the period of youth sacred to education.” In contrast to the nineteenth century where we learn that there was child labor in industries, society ensures that education is available to all children and an equal platform is availed by having a single education curriculum.
Trade between nations seems to be done with ease and is open to all. Nations of the future have laws that ensure no country that enjoys natural advantage in any industry exploits the rest. In addition, the writer says that any nation refusing to trade with another would be excluded from trade with all the other nations. Moreover, countries are compensated for lost manpower in case of migration which ensures there are free movement and no brain drain.
Works Cited
Bellamy, E. (1995) Looking Backward: 2000-1887. New York: Bedford St. Martins.
Taking a Look at Edward Bellamy's Looking Backward. Le Quebecoislibre. 15th Oct. 2011. 8th Feb. 2013 <www.quebecoislibre.org/11/111015-5.html>
Edward Bellamy - Looking Backward. Looking Backward - 2000 to 1887 by Edward Bellamy. 1982. 8th Feb. 2013. <http://www.unification.net/bellamy/>
