 UTOPIA - INTRODUCTION

Sir Thomas More was the first person to use the term “utopia,” describing an ideal, imaginary world
in his most famous work of fiction. His book describes a complex community on an island, in which
people share a common culture and way of life (“16th Century Dreams: Thomas More”). The term he
coined derives from the Greek word ou-topos meaning “nowhere,” (“Utopia Summary”). Ironically, it
is the opposite of the similar-sounding Greek word eu-topos meaning “a good place,”
(“Utopia Summary”). At its heart,the book poses the question of whether there could ever be such a
thing as a “perfect” world and served as a platform to highlight the chaos of European politics at the
time.

The book, written in 1516, is More’s attempt to suggest ways to improve European society, using
“Utopia” as an example. More was a major figure of the English Renaissance who cared deeply about
the moral and political responsibilities of individuals. He eventually rose to one of the highest offices
in the land, and, as chancellor of England in 1529, came up against his own king with disastrous
consequences. More strongly opposed Henry VIII’s separation from the Catholic Church and refused
to sign the Oath of Supremacy, which would give King Henry more power than the Pope. He was
convicted of treason and was imprisoned in the Tower of London. They continued to urge him to sign
the oath, but he refused. He was sentenced to be hanged, drawn, or quartered, the usual
punishment for traitors, but the king commuted this to execution by decapitation. While on the
scaffold, he declared that he died, “The king’s good servant, and God’s first” (qtd. in “Thomas
Moore” Wikipedia).

The society depicted in Utopia differs from the European society that Thomas More was living in at
the time, with lots of intrigue, corruption and mired by scandal. The author’s experience with politics
in his time and the Utopia that he invented demonstrates this contrasting relationship: he society
depicted in Utopia differs from the European society that Thomas More was living in at the time, one
infested by corruption and mired by scandal and intrigue. Clearly dissatisfied with the world he was
living in, More sought to create a different place altogether on the page—a world free of the
hierarchies that ultimately cost the author his life.

BIOGRAPHY

Sir Thomas More was born to a Roman Catholic family in Dublin, Ireland in 1478. Two years after
attending Oxford, More moved to England where he studied Law at Lincoln’s Inn. In addition to
practicing law, he would later gain fame as a poet, satirist, composer, political propagandist, and
rhetorician (“Thomas Moore” Encyclopedia Britannica). He was, at one time, one of Henry VIII’s most
trusted civil servants, becoming Chancellor of England in 1529. In his work, he defined systems of
punishment, social hierarchy, agriculture, and education, as well as customs for marriage and death.
More wrote in the 16th century, the time of the Reformation, which set out to reform the Catholic
Church in Europe and resulted in the development of Protestantism. Growing up in an Irish and
Roman Catholic household, he was a passionate defender of Catholic orthodoxy, so much so that he
argued against King Henry and was tried for treason, ultimately leading to his execution in 1535
(“16th Century Dreams: Thomas More”).

SUMMARY

1
Thomas More, the author who has also written himself as the primary character, runs into his old
friend, Peter Giles, on a trip as an ambassador for England to Antwerp. The main plot of the story
develops when Giles introduces More to a character named Raphael Hythloday, a philosopher and
world traveler. These characters begin debating the roles of philosophy, politics, and how the twog
fields intersect in Book One (“Utopia Summary”).

Impressed by Hythloday’s incredible knowledge and understanding of government and philosophy,

More and Giles suggest that Hythloday be an advisor to the king. Hythloday refuses and shares an
anecdote of a dinner with Cardinal Morton to illustrate that he believes advising or counseling a king
to be pointless and that it would constrain his ability to philosophize and learn. He believes this to be
so because a king is only looking to be affirmed, not counseled; any policy proposal would sound
ridiculous to someone with a different view according to Hythloday. This brings politics to the
forefront of the conversation, and Hythloday expresses that he believes Utopian politics to be far
superior to European politics, especially the concept of common property. More and Giles disagree
with Hythloday on this concept, but ask to learn more about Utopia. This ends the first book.
(“Utopia Summary”)

In the second book, the three return from lunch to continue their discussion. Hythloday explains the
origins of the Utopian society as well as the formulation based on rational thought, communal
property, productivity, no class distinctions or poverty, little crime or immoral behavior, religious
freedom, and little violence. Hythloday continues to express his belief that Utopia is a superior
society to any in Europe. More and Giles then react to this society claiming some of it to be strange,
irrational, even absurd, while other parts could be greatly beneficial to European societies
(“Utopia Summary”).

THEMES

Utopia presents many themes such as wealth, power, slavery, and causes of injustice. The
overarching theme throughout the book is the ideal nature of a Utopian society. In Utopia, there is
no greed, corruption, or power struggles due to the fact that there is no money or private property.
There is very little hierarchy and everything is held in common where everyone’s needs are supplied.

Utopia is based upon the idea that money corrupts the government and destroys justice and
happiness in society. Hythloday points out that even the wealthiest of men still are not happy
because they are too worried about securing and increasing what they have. They leave the rest of
humanity without the means of meeting ends, leading to injustice, misery, and ultimately, crime
(“Utopia: Theme Analysis”).

The search for justice is highlighted throughout the novel. They shine a light on the fact that they
injustly punished theives by using the death penalty, up until the 19th century in England. Hythloday
argues that theft is not a crime that should result in such a cruel punishment as death; a punishment
should be equivalent to its crime. Hythloday also shows us the tendency of the law to protect the
interests of the upper classes and, in turn, oppress the poor (“Utopia: Theme Analysis”)

2
3
THEMES

Utopia presents many themes such as wealth, power, slavery, and causes of injustice. The
overarching theme throughout the book is the ideal nature of a Utopian society. In Utopia, there is
no greed, corruption, or power struggles due to the fact that there is no money or private property.
There is very little hierarchy and everything is held in common where everyone’s needs are supplied.

Utopia is based upon the idea that money corrupts the government and destroys justice and
happiness in society. Hythloday points out that even the wealthiest of men still are not happy
because they are too worried about securing and increasing what they have. They leave the rest of
humanity without the means of meeting ends, leading to injustice, misery, and ultimately, crime
(“Utopia: Theme Analysis”).

The search for justice is highlighted throughout the novel. They shine a light on the fact that they
injustly punished theives by using the death penalty, up until the 19th century in England. Hythloday
argues that theft is not a crime that should result in such a cruel punishment as death; a punishment
should be equivalent to its crime. Hythloday also shows us the tendency of the law to protect the
interests of the upper classes and, in turn, oppress the poor (“Utopia: Theme Analysis”)

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