The plot of
As a representative of the nineteenth century transported to the twentieth century, Julian is capable of criticizing nineteenth-century society. He clearly speaks as an enthusiastic supporter of the social and economic structure in Bellamy's imagined twentieth-century utopia. Bellamy well knows that his reading audience is likely to be hostile and incredulous regarding many of his ideas for social reform, so he persuades his readers to consider his radical vision of the perfect society by using a narrator with whom they can identify. Julian is a well-educated aristocrat, like much of the nineteenth-century reading public. He thus functions as a guide to Bellamy's strange, late-twentieth-century society. The long discussions between Julian and Doctor Leete are a symbolic representation of the dialogue between Bellamy and his audience. Julian, as a product of the nineteenth-century society, represents Bellamy's readers. Doctor Leete, as the mouthpiece for Bellamy's ideas, represents Bellamy himself. Through Julian, Bellamy anticipates the questions and concerns of his audience about his proposals for social reform. He rationally and systematically responds to these questions and concerns through Doctor Leete.
Julian characterizes the conditions of the nineteenth century as a moral outrage. Bellamy softens his harsh critique of his audience's most cherished beliefs by asserting that ignorance largely accounts for the existence of this outrage. Moreover, Julian asserts that the utopia he describes is the logical outcome of the nineteenth century's rapid industrialization. Contrary to his contemporaries' beliefs, the nineteenth century is not the apex of human civilization, but only one stop along the way. By placing his strange, unfamiliar, somewhat threatening vision of the future with the context of rational and logical progress, Bellamy attempts to persuade his incredulous and reluctant readers to give serious thought to his proposals for social reform.
Njama ya Kama mwakilishi wa karne ya kumi na tisa kusafirishwa kwa karne ya ishirini, Julian ni uwezo wa kukosoa jamii ya karne ya kumi na tisa. Yeye wazi anaongea kama msaidizi shauku ya muundo wa kijamii na kiuchumi katika Bellamy ya mawazo ya karne ya ishirini utopia. Bellamy anajua vizuri kwamba wasomaji wake ni uwezekano wa kuwa na uhasama na kutokuamini kuhusu mawazo yake mengi ya mageuzi ya kijamii, hivyo yeye kuwashawishi wasomaji wake kuzingatia maono yake ya kikamilifu ya jamii kwa kutumia msimuliaji ambaye wanaweza kutambua. Julian ni mtu mwenye elimu ya juu, kama wengi wa wasomaji wa karne ya kumi na tisa. Hivyo yeye hufanya kazi kama mwongozo wa Bellamy ya ajabu, mwishoni mwa karne ya ishirini jamii. Mazungumzo marefu kati ya Julian na Daktari Leete ni uwakilishi wa mfano wa mazungumzo kati ya Bellamy na watazamaji wake. Julian, akiwa mzao wa jamii ya karne ya kumi na tisa, huwakilisha wasomaji wa Bellamy. Daktari Leete, kama msemaji wa mawazo ya Bellamy, anawakilisha Bellamy mwenyewe. Kupitia Julian, Bellamy anatarajia maswali na wasiwasi wa watazamaji wake kuhusu mapendekezo yake ya mageuzi ya kijamii. Yeye kwa busara na kwa utaratibu hujibu maswali haya na wasiwasi kupitia Daktari Leete. Julian anafafanua hali za karne ya kumi na tisa kuwa ukosefu wa maadili. Bellamy hupunguza ukosoaji wake mkali wa imani za watazamaji wake kwa kudai kwamba ujinga unahusika sana na kuwepo kwa ukatili huu. Isitoshe, Julian anadai kwamba utopia anayoufafanua ni tokeo la kimantiki la maendeleo ya haraka ya viwanda katika karne ya kumi na tisa. Kinyume na imani za watu wa wakati wake, karne ya kumi na tisa si kilele cha ustaarabu wa kibinadamu, bali ni kituo kimoja tu njiani. Kwa kuweka maono yake ya ajabu, yasiyo ya kawaida, na yenye kutisha ya wakati ujao katika muktadha wa maendeleo ya busara na ya kimantiki, Bellamy anajaribu kuwashawishi wasomaji wake wasioamini na wasio na nia ya kufikiria kwa uzito mapendekezo yake ya mageuzi ya kijamii.