# XXIV explained — Looking Backward

> Chapter companion for Looking Backward by Edward Bellamy.

## What happens

Julian West explores the house and garden, visits the underground chamber, and brings a 1887 newspaper to breakfast. Dr. Leete reads about labor troubles and explains that the anarchist 'red flag' party was subsidized by monopolies to discredit reform. He then describes the rise of the 'national party,' which transcended class divisions to reorganize society on a higher ethical basis, nationalizing production and distribution.

## Themes in this chapter

### Economic System and Cooperation

Dr. Leete describes the national party's aim to nationalize production and distribution, creating a cooperative commonwealth.

### Critique of Capitalism and Consumerism

The chapter criticizes the old system where monopolies subsidized anarchists to block reform, and contrasts it with the new ethical order.

### Moral and Social Progress

The national party is presented as a moral advance, reorganizing society on a higher ethical basis for the benefit of all classes.

## Character check-ins

### Julian West

Julian goes downstairs early, seeks Edith, visits the underground chamber, and brings a 1887 newspaper to breakfast.

### Edith Leete

Edith blushes when greeting Julian at breakfast but is self-possessed.

### Dr. Leete

Dr. Leete reads the 1887 newspaper aloud and explains the subsidization of anarchists and the rise of the national party.

## Key lines

> The subsidizing of those fellows was one of the shrewdest moves of the opponents of reform.

Paying the anarchists was a clever tactic by those who opposed social reform.

_Dr. Leete explains that monopolies funded anarchists to discredit reform movements._

> It was not till a rearrangement of the industrial and social system on a higher ethical basis, and for the more efficient production of wealth, was recognized as the interest, not of one class, but equally of all classes... that there was any prospect that it would be achieved.

Only when people saw that a more ethical and efficient system benefited everyone, not just one class, could reform succeed.

_Dr. Leete describes the broad consensus needed for the national party's rise._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/looking_backward_se/chapters/xxiv
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/looking_backward_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/looking_backward_se/chapters