LITR 5737: Literary & Historical Utopias

Final Exam Submission 2007

Brouke M. Rose-Carpenter

Topic A2.

“The Universal Dream”

            The idea of living in the perfect world, or perfect society is universal, in turn making the idea of Utopia also universal.  The sad reality is that there is a lack, if not a void, in multicultural utopian literature.  Where the authorship of Utopian literature is concentrated in Western civilizations, the longing for a perfect society is seen worldwide. Perhaps the underdeveloped utopian literary world is due to the repression of education in some countries, along with the suppression of freedom.

            If citizens are not allowed the opportunity for equality, then they are not educated and cannot compose anything, much less a utopian novel, but that does not stop them from dreaming.  As we see in the few multicultural pieces that we have, they are not exactly utopian novels, but hold utopian ideals and aspects. 

            Whenever freedom is withheld, is when those who are restrained become motivated to form dreams of a perfect world.  It is mainly through those dreams that we see the multicultural ideal of utopia.  Probably the most infamous visionary speech is, The Dream speech by Dr. Martin Luther King.  As we saw in Liz Davis’s presentation over King’s speech, that Kings dream was for universal unity:

When we allow freedom ring, we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:

            Free at last! Free at last!

            Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!

King is motivated through is desire for a universal peace.  He strives for a utopian world, and it is in this speech that we see how he works with utopian ideals.  He wants global unity and equality. 

Also in Chief Seattle’s speech we see another instance where the multicultural utopia is expressed in the form of a vision. He has seen what he predicts to be the outcome of his people and their land.   He has hope, and dreams of their communalism.  He is almost nostalgic about nature, and knows that even if the white men kill them and take their land that the red man will always live on through nature. 

In the slave narratives we see their journey from dystopia into utopia.  As Carlos Castillo pointed out in his presentation, “Is Multiculturalism Possible in Utopian Societies?” we see transference, nostalgia, hope, alienation, and didacticism here.  When a slave made their assent into the North there seems to be a utopian outlook on their new and improved life.  Everything is cleaner, nicer, and much better.  It is completely understandable that this transition would be glorified considering their life, or lack of livelihood, in the South.  Even while they are in the South we witness their utopian ideal, especially when compared to the dystopian life they have to lead in the South.  They are dehumanized in the South, and the possibilities seem endless when they refer to the North, or enter into Northern territory. 

This suppression is not restricted to those in the US, but as Gordon Lewis displayed in his presention “Kibbutzim of Isreal”, that the longing for a perfect place is worldwide.   They have created their own utopian oasis away from the rest of the world.

Even though there are some multicultural novels with aspects of utopian ideals, there really aren’t any Utopian novels.  Perhaps this can be contributed to the constant negligence of some utopian authors who do not address the issue, skim over it, or still show prejudices.  In Ernest Callenbach’s novel, Ecotopia, we see this prejudice in motion.  He not only separates African Americans from the rest of the society, but also enforces negative stereotypes and clichés to their world.  These not only feed into the prejudices of others, but also continue to suppress those who are anything but white to step up and write a multicultural utopian novel.  I do not understand his reasoning behind enforcing segregation in Ecotopia.  Why not leave it as all men and women are equal and live amongst each other in harmony?  Carlos Castillo makes a comment on this problem, “I think, like gender roles, the multicultural aspect is one that is difficult to deal with … for the most part, it seems easier to gloss over this area than spend the time to grapple with it.”  Is the lack of multicultural utopian literature due to the problems that come along with dealing with it?  I am sure this is a common notion, but I do not understand the problem with creating all people freedom, equality, and unity.

Whatever and wherever the problem lies in the development of Utopian Multicultural literature I am not sure, but one fact that presents itself and partially answers the why there isn’t any of this type of literature from the past is due to suppression.  Many cultures are suppressed in regards to their freedom, and education, limiting who and what perspective the utopian novels are written from.  Regardless if there are novels or not, the dream always lives. People as a whole want to live in a perfect world, there is not one perfect world, but there is the universal dream that one day we will obtain the perfection that we individually dream of.   

*I am sorry, but I could not find a section from the 2005 finals to fit with essay.

Topic B2.

“Starting a New Through the End of Another”

Sometimes a fresh start is all someone needs to better him or herself, and other times a fresh start is needed to better a society as a whole. For Utopian literature this fresh start, or new beginning, is accomplished through millennialism. Whether the circumstances that invoke millennialism are self-separation, war, natural disaster, science, or the wrath of God, there is always some kind of devastation, but then the rebirth, cleansing, or renewal always takes place. 

            Why does this reoccurrence in millennialism take place in Utopian literature?  In Bryan Smith’s 2005 Final he states:

Millennialism serves to thicken the plot of the utopian narrative.  Like conflict, the idea that the end is near gives people something to fear, something to worry about, and something to work against.  Utopia, after all, can be a very boring place.  Arriving at Utopia, however, or fleeing from Dystopia once things have gone horribly wrong, can be a much more interesting situation, if no a desirable one.

I agree with Smith’s argument.  Millennialism seems to be a requirement for Utopian novels, without this occurrence the story would loose all direction, and its audience, which is why it’s a necessity. 

            Every author has his or her own way of inserting an apocalyptic event, but all alter lives and society.   The entirety of Revelation is Millennialism.  Revelation is the prophecy of the end of days, and the beginning of heaven on Earth.  The tone is quite authoritative, and as Devon Kitch noted in their 2005 Final, “The reader is being spoken to, but is not invited to enter the story.”  The intention of Revelation is to act as a warning, and motivation for practicing Christians.  It is a glimpse into the rewards and punishments that lie ahead for the faithful and unfaithful.  This is to be taken seriously by those who believe in Christ.  Kitch makes a very valid point, this is not a piece that is to entertain its readers, but to strike fear, which is why the reader is not invited in to participate.  This is to act as an actual “revelation” of the millennialism that lies ahead.  Unlike other millennial events that we have read, Revelation’s millennialism is to only forewarn, while others are to move the plot along.  Revelation acts as an imperative pillar for Christians, which is why the entertainment aspect of its millennialism seems to gone, because it is to be taken with the utmost sincerity.  So, as far as the entertainment value in Revelation versus other millennial stories is concern, the other literature is more interesting, but Revelation is moving, and causes a greater affect regardless of lack of novel-esk elements. 

            The repercussions and rewards described in Revelation act as the motivation for many people and religious groups.  In Kristen Bird’s Historical presentation, “The Amish”, we see the current influence from the book of Revelation that has caused an entire community to be founded on the inspiration of Jesus Christ and his teachings and rewards for the faithful.  They are a living example of millennialism in effect.  They migrated to the US in the 18^th century, but instead of this event causing them to start a new, their time seems to have stopped dead in its tracks.  Their move was motivated through the words of the Bible, and the glory in their millennial event is anticipated for the actual apocalypse.  They wait for Revelation to come to them, and then they will be in their heaven, or utopia.

            Where the Amish have established their own community, the communal aspect of Utopia is seen quite often as the resolution to the aftermath of the millennial event.  The community bands together to create a functional world, as in Herland, by Charlotte Perkins Gillman, the women survive not only war, but also the volcanic eruption that causes their seclusion.  The Herlander’s world is founded from millennialism, and the second form of millennialism that the Herlanders experience also motivates the novels adventure.  By the arrival of the men the women experience another apocalyptic event.  The men change their world, and the future of their society causing their second millennial event, and drive the reader to continue to read.  The use of two millennial events acts not only as the driving force in Herland, but can also be considered the foundation and theme.   In a literary aspect the use of two millennial events keeps the readers attention, creating a lack in dullness that can sometimes be seen in some Utopian novels.

            Community can be seen in many Utopian works as the base for their society, and is seen in a positive light, but one author that creates a communal dystopia is Ayn Rand in her novel, Anthem.   The bliss that is normally found in the community working together, is completely dismissed, and replaced with the horrifying idea of community replacing freedom, independence, and individuality.  The millennial event lies in the escape from the community, and discovery of self.  Here the millennial event is the relief and release.  Rand displayed a different side to Utopian community, by creating a dystopian world, and the use of millennialism acts as the climax, but enhances the importance of creating ones own personal utopia through liberty. 

            The use of millennialism is crucial to the creation of a Utopian novel.  There is a need for the compare and contrast of the world that is lived in, to the world that use to be, or can be lived in.  It is as if we need to know what is being left behind, looked forward to, or replaced.  The millennial event is a reasonable way to wipe a slate clean, and create a new world.  Giving that environment a fresh start to attempt perfection.