Utopia | Summary
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Summary
Utopia is a work of political and social satire written in three sections.
Its author never describes a particular purpose in writing Utopia.
However, scholars agree it is a combination of social satire and genuine
philosophical thinking. It can sometimes be hard to know where More is
being facetious and where he is arguing for social or political change.
Front Matter
Before the beginning of Utopia, More provides a number of made-up
but intriguing items. These include poems and an alphabet in the
"Utopian language," maps of Utopia, and letters that supposedly verify
the existence of Utopia.
Book One: Thomas More Meets Raphael Hythloday
Book One, which is much shorter than Book Two, describes a trip that
More takes to Flanders (modern-day Belgium). There he meets up with
his (real life) friend Peter Giles and the fictional character of Raphael
Hythloday. The fictional Hythloday, it turns out, has traveled with the
(real life) Amerigo Vespucci to the New World (the Americas). From
there Hythloday went off on his own to discover the fictional island of
Utopia.
Much of Book One is made up of sociopolitical debate among More,
Hythloday, and Giles. Hythloday describes a discussion he had with a
variety of real and made-up men at a dinner party hosted by the
Archbishop of Canterbury. At the end of Book One, Hythloday offers to
tell the gathered group about the amazing culture and politics of Utopia.
Book Two: Utopia
Book Two consists of an in-depth description of the physical, social, and
cultural aspects of Utopia as described by Hythloday. By the end of
Book Two, the reader has a well-rounded vision of what it would be like
to live in the fictional Utopia. The chapters include:
Description of Utopia: This chapter focuses on the geography and
geology of Utopia, along with details about its many harbors, its 54
cities, and its many farms.
Of Their Towns, Particularly of Amaurot: This chapter explains
the layout of Utopian cities. It tells the way their houses and
gardens are laid out, cared for, and shared so that no one owns
anything. All goods and land are available to all.
Of Their Magistrates: This chapter describes the government and
justice system of Utopia. It includes a system that makes people
slaves rather than imprisoning or executing them for crimes.
Of Their Trades, and Manner of Life: Everyone in Utopia—men,
women, and children—works in agriculture, makes their own
clothes, and enjoys leisure activities such as attending lectures or
playing games. There is no money, and no one is richer than
anyone else.
Of Their Traffic: This chapter describes the family structure of the
Utopians and the very specific rules by which the society is
organized. The chapter also describes how the sick and injured are
cared for.
Of the Travelling of the Utopians: Utopians travel from city to city,
but they must ask for and receive permission to do so. No one is
allowed to wander aimlessly without a plan, or to stay anywhere
without working. "All men live in full view" of one another so no
one can break a rule without their actions being noticed or without
consequences.
Of Their Slaves, and of Their Marriages: Utopians have many
slaves, mainly consisting of criminals and the poorest members of
other neighboring societies. Women have more rights and
privileges than was common during More's time but fewer than are
common today. Divorce is possible though not common.
Of Their Military Discipline: Utopians "detest war," but when they
do fight, they do so with the aim of avoiding bloodshed.
Of the Religions of the Utopians: In Utopia there are many
religions. People may worship the sun, the moon, the planets, and
any other idols. All agree, however, in the idea of a Supreme
Being.
By the time Hythloday has told his entire story he is exhausted. More,
thinking deeply about what he has heard, takes Hythloday to dinner.
