LITR 5737: Literary & Historical Utopias
Midterm Submission 2007

Carmen Ashby

June 18, 2007

Defining Utopia

Objective 1a asks, “How to define the literary genre of ‘utopias’?  What elements and difficulties repeatedly appear?  What audiences are involved or excluded?”   

Merriam-Webster defines utopia as 1: an imaginary and indefinitely remote place 2 often capitalized : a place of ideal perfection especially in laws, government, and social conditions  3 : an impractical scheme for social improvement.  By using the texts that we have read this semester, Utopia, Looking Backward, Herland, and Anthem, I will try to determine if these dictionary definitions hold up for the genre of utopias.

            The term utopia originated in Greece, and translated, it means no place.  This gives the hint that no matter what kind of utopia one thinks they are in, it will prove to be non-realistic or non-existent.  Sir Thomas More coined this phrase when he wrote Utopia in 1516.  Generally, utopias describe a group of people as a whole without much, if any, individualism.  In his 2005 midterm, Robert Ausmus describes utopias as the epitome of ideal living conditions and practices unique to their culture. He also states that utopias promote greater and more universal conditions of peace, happiness, fulfillment, and harmony between people, other sentient beings, and nature. 

            As we discussed in class, Bellamy’s Looking Backward, over generalizes the idea of the “industrial army” and the ends that it produces seem to be too good to be true.  Furthermore, the text downplays wealth, but emphasizes it when the question arises again.  The novel paints the picture of a perfect society, but elements of dystopia appear as well.  One example of this is the treatment of women.  They are treated as equals and can work in this “industrial army” until they are called away to perform their “maternal duties”.    Bellamy also states, “Under no circumstances is a woman permitted to follow any employment not perfectly adapted, both as to kind and degree of labor, to her sex.” 

            Herland fits the definition of an imaginary and indefinitely remote place.  The exact location of Herland could never be revealed to the reader because it is fictional.  However, it is not a place of ideal perfection to everyone that is in Herland.   The means by which Herland became so remote was explained to the reader.  This explanation also leads the reader to see the impractical scheme for social improvement.   There is no way that a community of all women could survive even in the name of social improvement.  Jeff and Terry had very different views of Herland and it can be argued that Jeff’s utopia was Terry’s dystopia.  After meeting with the people of Herland, Terry’s response was “Girls!”  Call those girls!”  Jeff’s interpretation after the same encounter was “Most delightful girls, I call them”. 

            Ayn Rand’s Anthem appears to be more dystopian rather than utopian literature.  The society is faced with challenges that appear to make it fall apart.  The ideas of the utopia in Anthem differ from those in Herland and Looking Backward.  Prometheus feels confined by his surroundings as opposed to most of the characters in the other texts that feel their surroundings are ideal.  The utopia in Anthem becomes consumed with bettering the community and total governmental rule is the end result.  We see the change in Prometheus toward the end of the book.  He becomes aware that his utopia involves making the individual better rather than the community. 

            In Jo Lynn’s presentation of the history of Twin Oaks, we can see that this modern day utopia follows many of the same standards or rules of the utopias we read about.  The location is remote and the members have cut themselves off from the outside world.  Their community “was established as an escape from standard middle class values, an increasing violent society, and a desire to become more ‘earth friendly’.”  This escape includes a ban on televisions.  The people of Twin Oaks want to live free of the influences of produced mass media.  

In all four of the texts we have read, and the in class presentations, the dictionary definitions hold up to some extent.  However, we do see that the meaning of the word utopia varies from person to person.  There are many definitions and variances of the word, which makes it difficult, if no impossible to come up with a short, exact definition.