Utopia by Thomas More - Analysis Paper Example

Utopia was written by Thomas More at the time of the so-called Age of Discovery, during the time the European voyages of exploration, particularly by the sea, had a great impact towards enriching the human understanding concerning the globe. Moreover, with the more discovery, emerged a renewed belief regarding the human perfectibility and progress. In some instances, Utopia appears to be a parody of the then-famous type of the traveling narrative, composed by the explorer regarding their thrilling adventure abroad together with the vision of the society organization.

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Utopia is separated into two books; the first one entails the debate about the leadership in Europe, specifically and focusing King Henry VIII of England, whereby Thomas More was serving him as an advisor and later executed after being accused of treason. Whereas, book II involves the portrayal of the Utopia government, laws as well as the order. In the story, the author has demonstrated some themes that relate to the daily life of people in the society. The following essay will reflect on the thematic ideas that are explicit in the story.

Corrupt Society v/s ideal society

The superseding subject of Utopia is the perfect way of Utopian culture conversely with the Thomas More day that was characterized as corrupt European society. Utopia lacked money, private property; hence there was no any instance of vanity corruption and, greediness. All things were kept in a joint and the need for everyone was supplied. Aside from the usual elected Tranibors together with Prince, also, there was a small chain of command. Conversely, the European society is depicted as a region where greed rule and corruption, and a place where the idle and noble monarch pursues to expand their personal wealth as well as power at the people's expense, who are the dump in misery and poverty.

There are two viewpoints whereby the Europe is described as more progressed as compared to the Utopia, and they include, access plus culture to Christianity. To begin with, Utopia lacks written history. Secondly, according to assertions made by Hythloday, some people living in Utopias perceive the prevalence of Christianity over theirs as well as the changeover. However, in this instance, Thomas More's ideas were meant to condemn the European culture while on the other side acclaiming the Utopias. According to R. W. Chambers, he criticized that, "The underlying thought of Utopia always is, with nothing save Reason to guide them, the Utopians do this; and yet we Christian Englishmen, we Christian Europeans.!"

Justice

Justice seeking is the major theme in the story Utopia. According to the book, Thomas More, using Hythloday as his mouthpiece, attracts interest for the unfairness of using the death penalty against people who are guilty of theft, a culture that went on to England until the nineteenth century. He argues that there was no need for considering robbery as the crime that deserved death, there is no punishment that either averts a thief from stealing if that is the essential means of survival.

Hythloday continues to say that given that there is money as well as personal properties, there cant be justice for the greediest individual will take over the suitable materials leaving and leaving the remaining ones to low-class people, hence putting them in misery. Furthermore, he states that the inequality of justice: provided that: the individuals who are the lower class remain down by the limitation they are put on, while princes gauge what is lawful to their advantage. In most cases, nobility and monarchs prevailed with regards of cherishing their interests in law. On the other hand, Thomas More, who was also a lawyer, was quite aware that the law concerning property ownership was composed to safeguard their holdings.

There are two instances of injustice- imposing the death penalty as a way of punishing the thieves as well as the enacting laws that secure the interests of the monetary class while the oppressing the poor, these have been reflected in the Elizabeth Fricker's 1817 famous quote: condemned to be hanged for burglary. With regards to the objection by the general public in contradiction of this lopsided sentence, Lord Eldon, who was then Lord Chancellor, affirmed that "if hanging were abolished for theft, the property of Englishmen would be left wholly without protection."

Money

The Utopian framework, in the same manner as that of Plato's Republic, depending on the principle that money corrupts government and damages fairness in leadership together with happiness within the community. As per Hythloday affirmation, the horrible individuals amass a lot of money; however, they do not experience any happiness since they have many worries about how they will keep them. They abandon the rest of the humankind with deficit cash to meet their needs, therefore prompting crime, injustice and, misery.

Happiness

More encourages Hythloday to give his evidence to particular rules, referring that Plato's certainty that "nations will be happy when either philosopher become kings, or kings become philosophers." In the same manner, Hythloday, claims that on the condition that people own personal properties, and keeping in mind that money controls everything, there can't be any integrity in the government.

Various examples are provided of the European government corruption, whereby the rulers get bothered with gaining of power and money. However, the rich people dont get happy with those things, while making wretchedness for the most of the individuals who don't have plentiful to make ends meet. Conversely, Utopia was governed by a wise founder who was referred to as Utopus, whos wisdom was founded in the nations constitution. In Utopia, all things are arranged to assist the people and not the small ruling leaders. According to the Hythloday affirmation, the state is the only entity that is worth of having the Commonwealth name.

Happiness is something that is most significant among the Utopians and also a center of their contention in philosophy. They believe that delight is at the base of joy, also that the intention of God is that man should experience some happiness. Also, having thoughts that God has implanted appetite in people for healthy and pleasant things so as to lead him towards living a happy life. These ideas may appear to be somehow surprising putting into account that Thomas More was a committed Catholic. Various writers that are Catholic faithful stressed the essence of languishing in the spiritual redemption. However, such notions were dominant amongst Renaissance humanists, among them being Thomas More. Additionally, Thomas More has Hythloday certified his description on the name pleasure; it was expected that the devastating pleasure to the moral or the body, and desires that diminish from the desires of others.

Political engagement versus Idealism

Hythloday, Giles, and More extend their argument as seen in the Book I if it is good for an individual taught in statesmanship to get involved in the government that is engaged in the corrupt activities as a consultant or to stay autonomous and unconcerned. Hythloday decided to pick the following decision, as though he was in support of a monarch. He supposes that he needs to negotiate his beliefs or not be tuned into; More and Giles contends that it is more productive to get engaged, with the expectation that one can impact the framework for good from within.

The argument could bring echoes prompting the internal tussle in the Thomas More brain during the period that he was writing Utopia. In addition to that, he was requested to provide the service number used by King Henry VIII, while respecting his answer. In 1529, Thomas More chose to acknowledge and emerged Lord Chancellor. Moreover, he later discovered his goals towards struggle with Henry's management. Besides, he declined giving assistance to Henry in his break with the Pope, that was followed by him surrendering his office in 1532. He was beheaded in 1535, after being accused of treason.