Looking Backward Analysis

The Downfall of The Utopias

There are many similarities and differences between Looking Backward and News From Nowhere. The two societies vary in several ways including their attitude towards labor and education. Ultimately the government’s control of its people or lack thereof would allow the societies to fall. The societies lack the ability to advance and grow due to the two extreme versions of government displayed in the works. While having traits that create a peaceful, working society, both have at least one characteristic that highlights a flaw. This flaw would create a society in today’s world that would fail.

Both, the society in News From Nowhere and the society in Looking Backward, possess a strong attitude towards the work force. In News From Nowhere the people possess an
In Looking Backward, the government controls everything. There is no such thing as a private market. The government has control of the money people are given, the goods produced, and the hours people work. It is stated, ‘“ The equal wealth and equal opportunities of culture which all persons now enjoy have simply made us all members of one class”’ (Bellamy 103). In theory this would form a perfect society, but it would ultimately, if it were a real world, create the downfall of Looking Backward. One goal of communism is to create a society where all citizens are equal. Very similar to the society of News From Nowhere, communism ultimately fails. It is said, “‘ Until this equality of condition had come to pass, the idea of the solidarity of humanity, the brotherhood of all men, could never have become the real conviction”’ (Bellamy 103). Reinforcing the communist beliefs, Bellamy’s government has too much control over its people. Without freedoms, the people of Looking Backward lose certain individualities that they would have with less government