Topic > Thomas More's Utopia: A Question of English Values

As citizens of a society, we have the ability to question, criticize, and suggest alternative methods of governance to improve society and its individuals. Thomas More used this skill as a critic in the creation of his book, Utopia, which served as a social commentary on the failures of Tudor England and its rulers. We say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Thomas More questions the ability to distribute wealth and influence in Tudor England. England suffered from great disparity between classes, both economically and socially, due to the feudal system. More places emphasis on the profitable nature of landowners and its impact on lower-class citizens, forcing them into theft. More uses Raphael to further his critique, using irony to outline the unjust nature of the feudal system: "In other words, you create thieves and then punish them for stealing!". More attributes the cause of this corruption to those in power, calling them "the greedy few". This statement outlines More's main criticism of the feudal system, its individualistic character and the effect it has on the rest of society, for the personal gain of small groups. He also further criticizes the feudal system by delineating it as a mere plutocracy. He does so by questioning the preference of sheep over men: “Sheep…these placid creatures, which required so little food, have now apparently developed a furious appetite, and have turned into man-eaters.” He uses this reality to question man's greed, putting the monopolization of land before the well-being of other citizens, as More points out "hundreds of farmers are being evicted." This reality adds to More's criticism of the “few greedy people” who only care about their own economic gain over the well-being of their fellow citizens, opting instead to punish them for their life choices, which have been forced upon them. Book 2 allows More to offer an inverted reality, where economic and social differences are erased, allowing for a more just system, in More's eyes. In his “Utopia,” the population is made to feel like they are “like one big family,” which contrasts the individualistic nature of feudal systems. Furthermore, More devalues ​​rare metals, using them as “household appliances, such as chamber pots” and “doing everything to bring metals into contempt.” The essence of More's Utopia outlines the consequences of the feudal system on both an economic and social level, providing a society that is beneficial to the community. In conclusion, written during the Renaissance, a period of high thought and social progress, More questions the values ​​of contemporary England and criticizes its rulers, while providing solutions through his character, Raphael. Using veiled satire, More criticizes, among other issues, the struggle for economic power created by the feudal system, the conflicting ethics of human beings, and the complications created by monarchy. Raphael Hythlodeus serves as More's spokesperson, challenging the values ​​of Tudor England while providing a different perspective from his “Utopia”.