The Characteristics Of Thomas Mores Utopia - 913 Words

In 1516, Thomas More published the well-known book titled â€Å"Utopia,† where he defined the word as either â€Å"a good place† or â€Å"no place.† In the novel, More described an ideal communal society that was almost unheard of in his time. His â€Å"Utopia,† whose name was possibly derived from the Greek roots â€Å"ou not† and â€Å"tà ³p(os) a place† (â€Å"Utopia), can ultimately be considered a prototype of a modern welfare state (â€Å"Utopia (book)†). This, combined with a lack of private property and other characteristics, provided the backbone for many experimental societies, both fictional and real, since the book’s publication. There are numerous traits that can be associated with a utopia, including conformity, isolation from external influences, and a lack of†¦show more content†¦To facilitate this, both their education and the tales they were told from birth would have been fitted so the Guardians could witness and emulate the desired behavior (Plato). This willing conformity is essential to the functioning of a utopia. As one can derive from Plato’s â€Å"Republic,† if members of such a society are able to do as they please, a utopia would never be able to function. The fact that many utopias separate themselves from the outside world is another possible characteristic of a Utopia. Ernest Callenbach’s Ecotopia, formed 20 years prior to the events in the novel â€Å"Ecotopia† out of Washington, Oregon, and Northern California, had not allowed any Americans to cross its border. Even in the secretive Helicopter War where the United States attempted to regain Ecotopia did the Ecotopians manage to repel individuals from the outside world (Callenbach). Another example of this seclusion is the Utopia described in More’s novel of the same name. Originally starting as a peninsula, it was transformed into an island after the inhabitants excavated a 15-mile-wide waterway during the reign of the first king, King Utopos (â€Å"Utopia (book)†). A potential reason for this complete isolation could be to prevent exterior influences from contaminating the ideals of the utopia. Again, members of a utopian society need to conform to some degree in order for such an unconventional civilization to survive, andShow MoreRelated Utopian Dreams Essay1391 Words   |  6 Pagescompetitive by nature and would never be happy in a society where everyone is equal and there is no chance of advancement. Sir Thomas More dreamt of a land that was much like England but could never surpass time. He opened the eyes of a nation and made its people desire something new. Views were significantly changed and the world would never be the same. Sir Thomas More inspired dramatic changes in religion, community life and even paved the way for communism. And he did all of this throughRead MoreAnalysis of Thomas Mores Utopia Essay527 Words   |  3 PagesWhat is it about Thomas Mores Utopia that makes it as accessible and relevant to a 21st century westernized Catholic teenage boy as it did to an 18th century middle aged Jewish women? Utopia, a text written 500 odd years ago in differing country and language, is still a valid link to a contemporary understanding of society, human nature and morals. Through Mores Utopia, it becomes evident that the trans-historical and trans-cultural nature of the text emerges through Mores conscious and subconsciousRead MoreThe Hunger Games By Suzanne Collins1081 Words   |  5 Pagessociety capable of living in a flawless world, in a true utopia? In Sir Thomas More’s novel, Utopia, a paradisiacal island is depicted containing a faultless society. Since the release of this work in 1516, countless authors have used this idea to create their own perfect worlds. The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, is a prime byproduct of More’s utopia. However, the key difference between both novels is the intended creation of a utopia or dystopia. Collins understood that her text portrayed aRead More Socialism and Thomas Mores Utopia Essay2345 Words   |  10 PagesSocialism and Thomas Mores Utopia      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Socialist ideals have recurred throughout the history of literature; from Plato to Marx the elusive goal of a perfect state has occupied some of the best minds in political thought manifesting itself in literature. In the midst of this historic tradition is the Utopia of More, a work which links the utopias of the ancient with the utopias of the modern. Hythlodays fantasy island draws heavily on the Greek Republic and yet it influenced the revolutionaryRead More The Political Structure of More’s Utopia Essay2634 Words   |  11 PagesOver the past few centuries the word utopia has developed a variety of meanings: a perfect state, paradise, heaven on earth, but the original definition of the word means something quite different. Utopia, coined by Saint Thomas More in his famous work Utopia, written during the English Renaissance, literally means nowhere. It is ironic that a word meaning nowhere has become a catchall phrase for paradise. More’s wor k is popular because of its wit, its use of metaphor, and its proposals forRead MoreEssay on Thomas Mores Utopia and His Context3405 Words   |  14 PagesUtopia is Sir Thomas More’s seminal work, depicting a fictitious island and its religious, social, and political customs. 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What relationship exists between freedom, justice and societal goals? To answer this question we, like Plato, should look to a model society. Our model society will have a goal: a characteristic that makes a model citizen and which the populace desires to achieve. Our model society will also have justice: which protects the societal goalRead MoreA Comparison Of Thomas Mores Utopia, And The Symposium By Plato1607 Words   |  7 Pages Utopia by Thomas More, and The Symposium by Plato are similar in that they both challenge pre-existing notions in society. The two stories prompt readers to reconsider certain aspects of life which one might have found to be quite one-sided. Thomas More introduces us to an island called Utopia which serves as a model of perfection in each facet of everyday life. In The Symposium, Plato and his friends contribute distinctive interpretations on the origin and meaning of love. Both author’s purpose