Utopia

Thomas More

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'Utopia' by Thomas More is a classic work of satire that indirectly criticizes Europe's political corruption and religious hypocrisy. The book presents an ideal civilization that includes discussions on communism, government structure, and societal norms. It is written in a conversational style, featuring dialogues between characters discussing various social issues and contrasting the fictional land of Utopia with the flaws of European society.

Characters:

Characters primarily engage in dialogues that critique their own society and introduce Utopia, with Raphael Hythloday as the key narrator presenting their ideals.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by a blend of epistolary format and dialogue, featuring humor and satire, yet can occasionally be dry.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative intricately critiques and contrasts the problems of 16th-century England with an imagined ideal society, using a fictional traveler to reveal the socio-political structure of Utopia.

Setting:

The setting is a fictitious island intended to embody an ideal society, serving as a direct contrast to 16th-century England.

Pacing:

The pacing fluctuates, with a more briskly flowing dialogue in the first part and slower, detailed expositions in the latter.

I am almost ashamed, my dear Peter Giles, to have delayed for almost a year in sending you this little book about the Utopian commonwealth, which I’m sure you expected within six weeks. You knew, afte...

Notes:

Utopia was written by Thomas More and first published in 1516.

The word 'utopia' means both 'no place' and 'good place' in Greek.

More's Utopia presents a fictional society that critiques 16th-century England.

In Utopia, private property is abolished, and all goods are shared.

The government in Utopia controls all aspects of life, including work, leisure, and family structure.

Utopians work in a rotation system and are expected to contribute to society.

The book is structured in two parts: a critique of Europe and a detailed description of Utopia.

Women in Utopia work and are somewhat equal to men, which was radical for the time.

Utopians practice religious tolerance but impose laws against extreme beliefs.

The society has slavery, where criminals serve as slaves for punishment.

Animals are not slaughtered by Utopians, who only farm for their food, using slaves for butchery.

Utopia's concepts foreshadow aspects of modern socialism and communism.

More wrote Utopia partly as satire, questioning the nature of ideal societies.

The conversation in the book involves real historical figures, enhancing its plausibility.

The narrative features a traveler, Raphael, who claims to have visited Utopia.

Some elements of Utopia resemble totalitarian aspects which are now viewed critically.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Triggers in Utopia may include references to slavery, critiques of religious and ethical practices, and commentary on human rights.

From The Publisher:

A major new translation of Thomas More's popular work of philosophical fiction

In his most famous and controversial book, Utopia, Thomas More imagines a perfect island nation where thousands live in peace and harmony, men and women are both educated, and all property is communal. Through dialogue and correspondence between the protagonist Raphael Hythloday and his friends and contemporaries, More explores the theories behind war, political disagreements, social quarrels, and wealth distribution and imagines the day-to-day lives of those citizens enjoying freedom from fear, oppression, violence, and suffering. Originally written in Latin, this vision of an ideal world is also a scathing satire of Europe in the sixteenth century and has been hugely influential since publication, shaping utopian fiction even today.

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1 comment(s)

ColorfulLeo92

Loved It

2 months

3.7 stars. Thomas More was an i think important figure in Queen Elizabeth I court in the 1500s. The things I've previously knew about him have been from the fictions book my Hillary Mantel. Utopia is a fiction book by Thomas More where Utopia is the perfect civilisation with out war or poverty. Not the most enjoyable or entertaining works of fiction out dear but the history context of it alone is fascinating and its very cool that I was able to consume the story from the comfort of my phone.

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About the Author:

Saint Thomas More, 1478-1535, English statesman and author of Utopia, celebrated as a martyr in the Roman Catholic Church. He received a Latin education in the household of Cardinal Morton and at Oxford. Through his contact with the new learning…

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