Utopia Summary

Utopia

By: Thomas More (1478-1535)

Ð'* History of utopia

The history of utopia creation is that in 1760 a person in the name of Utopus conquered and civilized the area and named the land and the people by his name. To show mastery over nature, Utopus formed the land into an island, organizing a labor force that cut through the thin isthmus connected Utopus from the rest of the continent.

Ð'* Definition of utopia

Utopia means perfect society. There is no greed, selfishness, brutality, and very little crime. Furthermore, nobody is unhappy.

Utopia is a place in which rulers are selected from scholars. Their language, social customs, religion, dress, architecture and education are identical in all the 54 cities. There is a large degree of uniformity and harmony, and very little individualism. Laws and social customs heavily regulate the private decisions of individuals. A child can be reassigned to other parents if the child wishes to learn a trade other than his father's. Households consist of families and relatives, but family members can be relocated to other households if the distribution of adults per household becomes too crowded within a given city.

Amaurot, the capital of Utopia, is at the center of the island. The city is a major trade port, at Anyder River. Amaurot and Anyder River seem to be analogous to London and Thames River. But both are improved and cleaned.

Citizens are tenants in cities, which are almost all identical, and at least twenty miles long. Each city is divided into four sections, each with its own marketplace where the fathers go and take what they need from others, and supply in turn what they have produced. Also, good deeds are made reference to in marketplaces, as statues, erected in honor of the deeds, are placed there.

Ð'*Family in utopia

A family consists of about forty people, who live together, and share a trade. There are a minimum of ten people in each family, and the son typically learns from the father and takes up his trade. Should he have an affinity for something else, he may join another family. The oldest able-minded man looks after the family, and is called the governor of the family. It is the wives' duty to serve their husbands, the children's duties to serve their parents.

Ð'* The religion of utopian people

If we want to talk about the religion of utopian we should point that The Utopians are not Christians, but have high moral values they were eager to hear more about Christianity and that many of them had converted. Most Utopians are monotheists and their religion is similar to Christianity. Some of the Utopians' beliefs run counter to the moral traditions of the Christian church.

For examples they believe that the soul of man is immortal, and that God of His goodness has designed that it should be happy; and that He has therefore appointed rewards for good and virtuous actions, and punishments for vice, to be distributed after this life.

They value virtue, and punish those who embrace before marriage.

Utopians value marriage and one of punishment are forbidding a person to marry. It is also apparent that they value marriage because divorces are very difficult to obtain, and polygamy is illegal.

Ð'* Clothing in Utopia

Clothing in Utopia is very bland and durable. People do not wear fine cloths, but instead leather, to work. Clothing is of no importance, and does not signify importance or anything of the like.

At festivals, everybody, except the priests, wear white. The fashion never changes, and is based on practicality.

Ð'* Property

Pride is the root of great evils. They have eliminated wealth, the nobility, private property, and currency. Labor and goods are distributed equally. Property is held in common. Everyone