Utopia in Reading the Classics

Jun 17, 2018 Tania rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Utopia - the idea of an ideal society. We use the word frequently, and yet the book on which the entire reference is based reads much different than you might imagine. Sir Thomas More, consummate Catholic, English lawyer, and first confidant and then one who defied King Henry VIII, wrote this before the upheaval of the church in England under King Henry's rule. He writes it from the standpoint of having heard the story from a close friend who returns home after a long voyage. When he suggests th Utopia - the idea of an ideal society. We use the word frequently, and yet the book on which the entire reference is based reads much different than you might imagine. Sir Thomas More, consummate Catholic, English lawyer, and first confidant and then one who defied King Henry VIII, wrote this before the upheaval of the church in England under King Henry's rule. He writes it from the standpoint of having heard the story from a close friend who returns home after a long voyage. When he suggests that his friend, whom he holds in high regard, become a friend and confidant of the king, the friend explains how unlikely it is that his advice would be acknowledged or followed, since he's seen a civilization that ismuch more advanced than England whose practices would enrage the local nobles and royal family because of how well the people of that place are treated. He goes on to point out the faults of their current government by explaining what this magical place called Utopia offers. Analysis of More's story points out it is his own veiled criticism of society during his time, and a satirical look at a conglomerate of what everyone believes would make the perfect society. It is quite an engaging narrative, though also obviously controversial both then and now.

Reading from a modern perspective, Utopia is not my idea of a perfect society. Slavery still exists, people are still divided by class, and there is no acknowledgement of private property. Yet through history there is evidence that some believed this an ideal, because it shares commonalities with Communism, Socialism, and no doubt other forms of government. The description of this fictional society is very in-depth, and though some parts of it may sound promising, as a whole it's hard to imagine that this is truly what would be best. The foundation of the governing style also ignores the natural flaws that humans are born with; the ideal society depends on people who behave in an ideal manner. It's assumed that if people share everything, they will want for nothing, that greed is only born of having something and wanting more, and that people will choose to act for the greater good. It ignores that even in the best run society some people will simply choose to do the wrong thing, and to willfully hurt others. The one thing that writing about Utopia accomplishes is convincing the reader that there can be no such thing.

This edition had a treasure trove of bonus material at the end - excerpts of text that predated More's writing and were possibly a basis for his ideas including scriptures, description of voyages to the New World, and critical analysis of More and his writing. This was as interesting to read as the original text. ...more

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