Prompt #1 Human nature is depicted in many ways. In the song “Human Nature” by Michael Jackson he says, “Reaching out to touch a stranger”. His meaning behind this is an optimistic outlook on human nature, meaning that someone’s human nature is to reach out and help others without a second thought. This theory is similar to Edward Bellamy’s in Looking Backward. In this novel, it explains a pure socialist economy and government, were people don’t work for themselves but for the good of their country. Although other individuals think otherwise. In Democracy by Henry Adams, we get a pessimistic view of human nature. This theory being people out for their own benefit and taking out others to achieve their goals, which is identical to our government
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After being put into a hypnotic sleep West wakes up in the year 2000 in a socialist utopia. The way Bellmay wrote this book, he gave a very positive look on government unlike the negative one we have today. Instead of people working to move up in society and gain more wages, people earn the same amount of credit and are expected to work for honor and patriotism. On page 47 of the novel, amongst Wests’ confusion, Dr. Leete explains this in the simplest terms. He says, “’Now that industry of whatever sort is no longer self-service, but service of nation, patriotism, passion for humanity, impel the worker as in your day they did the solider’”. Also on page 45, Dr. Leete says, “’We require of each that he shall make the same effort; that is, we demand of him the best service it is in his power to give.’” This not only highlights the point of the people working together as a community instead of individuals but also that individualism is completely irrelevant and unheard of in this society. If observed Dr. Leete consistently says “We”, as in not only the government expects effort but the community. It is human nature for them to see themselves as a whole instead of individuals. His use of the word “we” shows the natural opposition of individualism and the unity of the …show more content…
Although the novel does not focus solely on government, it does bring up how human nature brings out the negative and cynicism in government. In the novel, instead of working for the equality of people, we see the background and underhanded sneaky ways of politics. A peak of this is shown when Ratcliff, a key character in the plot of the novel, makes a comment about George Washington and how he would compare in their era of politics. In Democracy, the human nature is to consider the word “politics” parallel to “efficient”. In Looking Backward, the word “politics” is never closely associated with efficient, almost the opposite actually. Government to them does not coexist with politics, like it does in Democracy and in today’s time. In the conversation, he says, “Washington was no politician as we understand the word," replied Ratcliffe abruptly. "He stood outside of politics. The thing couldn't be done today. The people don't like that sort of royal airs.” This “slip” by Ratcliffe shows his human nature by showing how superior he feels toward his former leader and how individualism in this society is what gets people
After being put into a hypnotic sleep West wakes up in the year 2000 in a socialist utopia. The way Bellmay wrote this book, he gave a very positive look on government unlike the negative one we have today. Instead of people working to move up in society and gain more wages, people earn the same amount of credit and are expected to work for honor and patriotism. On page 47 of the novel, amongst Wests’ confusion, Dr. Leete explains this in the simplest terms. He says, “’Now that industry of whatever sort is no longer self-service, but service of nation, patriotism, passion for humanity, impel the worker as in your day they did the solider’”. Also on page 45, Dr. Leete says, “’We require of each that he shall make the same effort; that is, we demand of him the best service it is in his power to give.’” This not only highlights the point of the people working together as a community instead of individuals but also that individualism is completely irrelevant and unheard of in this society. If observed Dr. Leete consistently says “We”, as in not only the government expects effort but the community. It is human nature for them to see themselves as a whole instead of individuals. His use of the word “we” shows the natural opposition of individualism and the unity of the …show more content…
Although the novel does not focus solely on government, it does bring up how human nature brings out the negative and cynicism in government. In the novel, instead of working for the equality of people, we see the background and underhanded sneaky ways of politics. A peak of this is shown when Ratcliff, a key character in the plot of the novel, makes a comment about George Washington and how he would compare in their era of politics. In Democracy, the human nature is to consider the word “politics” parallel to “efficient”. In Looking Backward, the word “politics” is never closely associated with efficient, almost the opposite actually. Government to them does not coexist with politics, like it does in Democracy and in today’s time. In the conversation, he says, “Washington was no politician as we understand the word," replied Ratcliffe abruptly. "He stood outside of politics. The thing couldn't be done today. The people don't like that sort of royal airs.” This “slip” by Ratcliffe shows his human nature by showing how superior he feels toward his former leader and how individualism in this society is what gets people