Edward Bellamy, in his novel Looking Backward, outlines a futuristic utopia set in the twentieth century in which humanity lives in a much more collaborative and unified way. Concepts such as money or laws no longer exist, while the motivation to steal or cheat has simply dissolved. The general public, as opposed to private institutions, now has control over capital, viewing it as a collective entity. Furthermore, militaristic armies have dissipated and in their place has arisen a cohesive workforce, which Bellamy calls the “industrial army” (118). However, even with such radical and disparate changes, Bellamy is careful to maintain and build some connections with the nineteenth century, which manifest themselves in particular through the representation of the characters of Julian West and Edith Leete, so that this utopia he erected does not become one seems totally ethereal and inconceivable to its audience. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay First of all, Bellamy's decision to use Julian West as the narrator, who, originally from the nineteenth century, mysteriously awakens to find himself in the twentieth century, proves very appropriate. Julian plays a very critical role throughout the novel, because he serves as the main conceptual link between the huge disparities in lifestyles between the two societies. Bellamy was aware that his audience when publishing his novel would be made up of members of the upper-middle class, and so what better narrator was there than one who "... was wealthy and also educated, and possessed, therefore, all the elements of happiness" enjoyed by the most fortunate of that age" (Bellamy, 47)? By employing a narrator who holds a similar socioeconomic position in society to that of most audiences, Bellamy gives his readers something to hold on to. and to relate to as they, just like Julian, are immersed in a society marked by extreme changes. Furthermore, Julian is portrayed as a very curious, critical and often defensive person, which further reflects the attitude of the public , after Dr. Leete makes a remark regarding rising prices for expensive items, Julian wonders how this process can hold up when competition between buyers and sellers is nonexistent (Bellamy, 153). Such a question is exactly what the public would ask, accustomed to this concept of competition as a driving force in society that leads to greater efficiency and production. Furthermore, Julian often becomes defensive towards his own society, as when he states: "...our industrial system was ethically terrible, but as a mere machine for producing wealth, moral aspects aside, it seemed admirable to us" (179). The audience would naturally be inclined to defend their society, and so when Julian takes these defensive tones, the audience relates to him better. In essence, readers' thoughts materialize through Julian's actions and words throughout the book, which ultimately allows the audience to better understand this new and perplexing society. Edith Leete, although in a different way, accomplishes a similar feat in that she also provides a bridge from the utopian society to that of the public. Kenneth Roemer, in his essay "The Literary Domestication of Utopia," analyzes the role Edith played in ingratiating herself with nineteenth-century readers. Roemer refers to the way in which Edith is characterized by the fact that she still retains those characteristics and interests that are believed to be kept in the foreground by women, such as shopping and particular concern," 315).