Analysis Of Equality In More's Utopia

1.1. EQUALITY
First of the key features is equality, that helps the society to function properly and be a better place, where no citizen is neglected. According to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English (1996) equality is defined as the quality or state of being equal: the quality or state of having the same rights, social status, etc. Equality in More’s “Utopia” can be first seen in the similarity between the towns on the island. “There are fifty-four cities on the island, all spacious and magnificent, entirely identical in language, customs, institutions and laws. So far as the location permits, all of them are built on the same plan and have the same appearance.” (More, 1992: 82) Equality is also shown, not only by the similarities of the
Slaves were either criminals who had been convicted for serious crimes, prisoners taken in battle, or foreigners who subjected themselves willingly to slavery in Utopia because they were under the death penalty in their own country or because of a life of unendurable poverty and drudgery in their homeland. According to the Utopian system of servitude, allowance was provided for a slave to gain his freedom by good behavior and clear evidence of reformation of character. Furthermore, slavery was not hereditary; hence, the children of slaves were granted free citizen status. Even though the slavery on the island was not as bad as one might think, it was still criticized by various authors, such as Robert Nozick, who in his work “Anarchy, State, and Utopia” severely criticizes More’s idea of slaves.
The most important key features found in the “utopia” are: equality, their love for work, education, family and uncorrupted leaders. It can also be mentioned, that the utopians has not any property, everything belonged to the whole island. The listed features are the ones that tend to appear in other works of utopian literature that are cited in this