Utopia

by St. Thomas More

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The name of the book has given an adjective to our language—we call an impracticable scheme Utopian. Yet, under the veil of a playful fiction, the talk is intensely earnest, and abounds in practical suggestion. It is the work of a scholarly and witty Englishman, who attacks in his own way the chief political and social evils of his time. Designedly fantastic in suggestion of details, 'Utopia' is the work of a scholar who had read Plato’s 'Republic,' and had his fancy quickened after reading Plutarch’s account of Spartan life under Lycurgus. Beneath the veil of an ideal communism, into which there has been worked some witty extravagance, there lies a noble English argument. Sometimes More puts the case as of France when he means England.

Book Summary

"Utopia," written by Sir Thomas More, is a work of fiction and socio-political satire that describes a fictional island society with religious, social, and political customs that stand in stark contrast to those of 16th-century Europe. The book is divided into two main parts. The first part is a dialogue that critiques the contemporary social evils in Europe, including poverty, crime, and the political machinations of rulers. The second, and most substantial, part is a detailed monologue by the traveler Raphael Hythloday, who describes the geography, social structure, customs, and philosophies of the ideal commonwealth of Utopia. Through this fictional society, More explores concepts like communal ownership, religious tolerance, and the pursuit of happiness through virtue, creating a powerful commentary on the flaws of his own time.

Detailed Summary

Book 1: The Dialogue of Counsel and Critique of European Society

The story begins with Thomas More, acting as an ambassador in Flanders, where he is introduced to a well-traveled philosopher named Raphael Hythloday. This first section is structured as a dialogue between More, his friend Peter Giles, and Hythloday. Hythloday recounts his travels and explains why he refuses to enter the service of any king. He launches into a powerful critique of the injustices prevalent in European society, particularly England. He argues against the cruel practice of executing people for theft, contending that such desperation is a result of societal failures. He points to the enclosure of common land for sheep grazing, which displaces farmers and creates a class of impoverished people with no choice but to steal. Hythloday also condemns the vanity and idleness of the nobility, the corrupting influence of money, and the endless, self-serving wars waged by princes. He concludes that the courts of kings are so filled with flattery and corruption that a philosopher's honest counsel would be ignored or ridiculed, making it impossible to effect any real change from within.

Book 2: The Commonwealth of Utopia

In the second book, Hythloday describes the island of Utopia as a superior alternative to the societies of Europe. He details a well-ordered and rational commonwealth where private property is abolished. All goods are stored in common warehouses, and citizens take what they need without payment. The island contains 54 identical cities, and citizens divide their time between agriculture in the country and a chosen trade in the city, working only six hours a day. Gold and silver are held in contempt and used for chamber pots and chains for slaves to strip them of their perceived value. The government is a representative democracy where officials are elected. Their social customs emphasize community, reason, and moderation. Family is the core unit of society, and respect for elders is paramount. Their laws are few and simple, and they have no lawyers, as every citizen is expected to understand the law and plead their own case.

Book 2 Continued: Utopian Philosophy, Warfare, and Religion

Hythloday further explains the Utopians' way of life, which is guided by a moral philosophy centered on achieving happiness through pleasure—specifically, the higher pleasures of the mind and virtuous living. They detest war as a brutal practice but are highly trained in it for self-defense or to aid oppressed allies, preferring to win through cunning and strategic assassinations rather than large-scale slaughter. Slavery exists in Utopia, but it is not hereditary; it is the prescribed punishment for heinous crimes or a status for foreign prisoners of war and those who volunteer from neighboring poor nations. One of the most radical aspects of their society is religious tolerance. While most Utopians believe in a single, supreme creator god, citizens are free to practice any religion they choose, as long as they believe in the immortality of the soul and divine justice. They are forbidden from fighting or using violence over religious differences, believing that truth will eventually prevail through peaceful persuasion.

Conclusion: More's Final Reflections

After Hythloday concludes his extensive monologue, More offers his final thoughts. He admits that he finds many of the Utopians' customs to be absurd, most notably their complete abolition of private property, money, and social hierarchy, which he believes are the "true ornaments of a nation." However, seeing that Hythloday is weary and not inclined to debate, More refrains from arguing. He ends the book by confessing that while he cannot agree with everything, there are many things in the commonwealth of Utopia that he would "rather wish, than hope, to see followed in our governments." This ambiguous ending leaves the reader to ponder whether the Utopian ideal is a serious proposal or a satirical device meant to highlight the profound imperfections of the real world.