Utopia by Sir Thomas More | Summary

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Course Hero Literature Instructor Russell Jaffe explains the summary of Sir Thomas More's novel Utopia.
Download the free study guide and infographic for Utopia here: www.coursehero.com/lit/Utopia...
Sir Thomas More's Utopia is a satirical novel that brought us today's common word for a perfect society. More coined the word "utopia" from the Greek for "good place."
The story is structured as a series of conversations between More and fictional traveler Raphael Hythloday, who has just returned from a journey during which he visited the titular island. This supposedly ideal civilization is governed by ideas that are by turns egalitarian and draconian-property and work are divided equally, but punishments for certain relatively minor offenses are severe.
The novel, interpreted as both a sly critique of European governance and of the notion that society can be perfected, remains influential in the creation of imaginary worlds.
Later authors built on the ideas laid out in Utopia to write utopian and dystopian books such as 1984, Brave New World, and Walden Two. The idea of utopia has also influenced the development of such political philosophies as communism and the cooperative and commune movements.
Sir Thomas More, one of the most famous men in European history, first published Utopia in Latin in 1516. He never describes a particular purpose in writing Utopia. However, scholars agree it is a combination of social satire and genuine philosophical thinking.
The book contains many powerful themes, such as property and wealth, the perfect place, and crime and punishment. Symbols include the island representing Utopia’s uniqueness and isolation from the world, and gold representing the futility of greed in a society where everyone’s needs are met.
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[@areebbintmuhammad8707]

Thanks for summing complete utopia up in 4 minutes.

[@lou-louaise7480]

hi to all the people who have to watch this for school

[@obeb9819]

lol

[@GeneralArmorus]

im watching to discover communism source

[@daisyambriz1602]

Hey lol

[@diegourbina334]

Sup

[@abigailmarie7428]

im watching this because my essay is due today and i havent even read the book🤡🤡

[@e-solutionsforugcnetenglis3836]

Greatest work of that period and you explained it really well

[@kirataylor5199]

This sounds really interesting! Thank you

[@matthewsockey4742]

MY HISTORY TEACHER SHOWED THIS TO ME. NICE I ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT UTOPIA

[@vimosri7298]

Thank you sir

[@terry55588]

Tks bro

[@tommykrovolk965]

ok

[@obiwon1237]

2:33 oxymoron

[@axelbmd604]

je t aime tu a embellie ma journee reste fort!!!! je comprend aps l anglais

[@toddmaek5436]

So even in Utopia there is slavery??? What is it with these people

[@toefoneman]

Slavery is allowed if the person is duly convicted for a crime.

[@xxzekxx58]

@@toefoneman “Crimes” as in idleness (not working) and pre-material sex😐

[@xxzekxx58]

@@toefoneman They have North Korea level of punishments and no Utopian citizens even gets a fair trial because their are not allowed to get lawyers (Right to counsel) Cheating = slavery Petty thief = slavery Pre-material sex = slavery Not working = slavery There was one scene where one of Raphael’s men was preaching too much about Christianity and was sentenced to “disturbing the peace” which was punish either by exile or slavery.

[@WalkerLarson497]

@@xxzekxx58slavery is like public service, it’s not like the slavery we think of that comes to mind. You’re also not a slave for life, and you serve a sentence.

[@axelbmd604]

hello

[@epvt4855]

Ethiopa= Utopia the true story of Ethiopan Till this Day