Comparative Essay: Looking Backward and Fahrenheit 451 Essay

The American society comprises of customs and beliefs of the people living in the United States, who have unique characteristics in their cultural and social norms. Cultural diversity and social classes have been some of the characteristics that define the people living in the United States. The development and changes that have taken place in American society have been captured in different sources, including publications and films, amongst others. Publications such as Looking Backward and Fahrenheit 451 are some of the famous utopian novels that help describe the American society as it was in different centuries, compared to how the community is today. Looking Backward and Fahrenheit 451 has demonstrated the way of life of people living in America and are also keen to highlight the flaws that existed during that period, indicating that persons lived in an area where both external and internal factors forced them to behave in distinct ways.

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Looking Backward depicts the American society as one that valued material possessions, and families were committed to ensuring that their generations would acquire the most significant amount of property under their name so that it would support many persons born in the lineage. The author notes that his 'great-grandfather had accumulated a large sum of money which enabled his descendants to live comfortably.' (Bellamy 4). The narrator notes that his kin had invested in different areas that ensured a regular flow of money into the family account, making sure that the financial needs of his generations had been taken care. The money enabled people to live better lives than those that were struggling.

On the other hand, not all families were privileged to have generational properties benefit them. In Fahrenheit 451, Guy Montag, a fireman is doing all he can get so that he can earn a decent income that will ensure that his family has the necessary resources to live a comfortable life. Montag is forced to work for long hours and avail himself on call in case there is a fire emergency. Sometimes he reaches home at midnight and has to walk all the way home since he cannot afford a personal vehicle (Bradbury 3). Unlike Edward Bellamy's family in Looking Backward that does not have to spend long hours working, Montag has to earn every coin; otherwise his family would starve to death. The quality of life that people in the American society depended on the amount of resources they owned.

The gap between the rich and the poor in American society was notable. The rich lived in specific places in the towns while the poor were forced to live amongst themselves in the different parts of the city centre. Bellamy notes that his dream of owning a house was gradual and took a process since he had to ensure that he constructed the residential place in the best location that portrayed his social status page (Bellamy 12). The character of the neighbouring population influenced the desire that people had towards building in strategic parts of Boston. Bellamy notes that it was uncommon to see a rich person living among the poor as he or she would have nothing in common with them. Most of the houses of the rich belonged to them as they used their resources to build them. Comparably, in Fahrenheit 451, the author notes that Montag belongs to the poor social class, and does not have a permanent home. His neighbours are not also permanent owners of the houses they live. For instance, as he walks home from work one of the days, he meets Clarisse, a young lady who had just moved next to his house but had not met her. She states that he lives with her parents and uncle in the new house. She is also quick to note that her uncle had been arrested in the past for being a pedestrian (Bradbury 10). Social problems that the poor faced were different from that of the rich since the latter could drive themselves from one place to another, while the former had to rely on the public transport system or walk to their destinations.

Both Looking Backward and Fahrenheit 451 show that the American society valued the concept of family, and people were willing and able to stay in marriages so that they could bring up children, who would then continue with the cycle of community. Bellamy noted that despite him being 30 years old, he had plans of settling down with Edith Bartlett, his fiancee. They belong to the same upper social class, as she also came from a wealthy family. His commitment to see that he built a house first before he married Edith was a clear indication that Bellamy wanted his future family to live a comfortable life (Bellamy 11). Montag is a family man and does not shy introducing himself as married to the stranger; he meets as he walks home at night. Montag is also dedicated to his wife, and once he arrives home and finds that she is unconscious since she might have taken a medicine overdose, he is quick to call the hospital emergency unit (Bradbury 15). He is scared of losing his wife and feels relieved once he wakes up the following morning and finds her in the kitchen preparing breakfast for herself.

The two dystopian novels, identify many flaws in American society and seem to show that the community placed value on people based on their material wealth. For instance, in Looking Backward, the rich enjoy travelling using the upper coach of the train where the air is fresh, and there is room for people to stretch and move comfortably, while those from the poor backgrounds are forced to travel in a deplorable state. The gap between the rich and the poor has been extensive, and people from both social circles are unwilling to find a mutual solution that can allow them to relate in a personal level without judging each other. In Fahrenheit 451, it is clear that even the most despised groups in society play a pivotal role in the community. For instance, Montag, a fireman helped save the lives of people trapped in fires as well as properties of investors since he was trained in that area.

Conclusion

The novels provide solutions to the social problems by suggesting that the societal developments and advancements depend on the participation of every individual, irrespective of their social class. Each person takes part in building the nation and must be valued since he or she plays an essential role in the economy of the country. Further, the novels show that material wealth is not permanent as people may lose it either in the short-term or long-term, and the only valuable thing that must be established are the relationships that one builds with other people.

Works Cited

Bellamy, Edward. Looking Backward: 2000-1887. Broadview Press, 2003.

Bradbury, Ray. "Fahrenheit 451. 1950." New York: Ballantine, 1962: 3-200.