More's Utopia Analysis
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 asthe 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 …show more content…
These and such like notions have that people imbibed, partly from their education, being bred in a country whose customs and laws are opposite to all such foolish maxims, and partly from their learning and studies—for though there are but few in any town that are so wholly excused from labour as to give themselves entirely up to their studies (these being only such persons as discover from their childhood an extraordinary capacity and disposition for letters), yet their children and a great part of the nation, both men and women, are taught to spend those hours in which they are not obliged to work in reading; and this they do through the whole progress of life.They have all their learning in their own tongue… (More, …show more content…
Slaves on Utopia were either criminals who had been convicted for serious crimes, prisoners that were taken in battle, or foreigners who willingly became slaves, because they were under capital punishment in their own country. According to the Utopian system of servitude, if a slave had good behavior and it his reformation of character could be seen, he was allowed to gain his freedom. Furthermore, being a slave was not hereditary; hence, the children of slaves were granted free citizen status. (More, 1992: 99)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. (Nozick,
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 asthe 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 …show more content…
These and such like notions have that people imbibed, partly from their education, being bred in a country whose customs and laws are opposite to all such foolish maxims, and partly from their learning and studies—for though there are but few in any town that are so wholly excused from labour as to give themselves entirely up to their studies (these being only such persons as discover from their childhood an extraordinary capacity and disposition for letters), yet their children and a great part of the nation, both men and women, are taught to spend those hours in which they are not obliged to work in reading; and this they do through the whole progress of life.They have all their learning in their own tongue… (More, …show more content…
Slaves on Utopia were either criminals who had been convicted for serious crimes, prisoners that were taken in battle, or foreigners who willingly became slaves, because they were under capital punishment in their own country. According to the Utopian system of servitude, if a slave had good behavior and it his reformation of character could be seen, he was allowed to gain his freedom. Furthermore, being a slave was not hereditary; hence, the children of slaves were granted free citizen status. (More, 1992: 99)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. (Nozick,