Central Ideas in Thomas More's Book 'Utopia'

Thomas More advocates religious freedom in Utopia essentially to promote civic peace. More utilised utopian religious freedom as a model for Europe and attests to the 16th century conflictions involving Henry VII and the restricting divorce policy, which manifested to the creation of the Church of England. These conflictions led to the decision of Thomas More in his addressing of Faiths in the construction of Utopia. Thomas More urged one to consider rational principles when electing a religion far away from politically dangerous forms of Religion. It was a requirement for the followed religions to promote virtue, these limitations created a morally united yet spiritually diverse society. Controversially, this makes each religion fundamentally the same. In a utopian world, it was intended to do what is “Natural”. Doing what nature intends, according to utopians, is the true way of worshipping god. Natural is underpinned by reason, by considering reason More created utopia in avoidance of future conflicts. However, many say he was swayed by his pious Christian background which opposes the pagan ideas founded in Utopia and the general humanistic view. Many scholars attest that the inclusion of religions in the utopian world is unpreventably dangerous.

Utopia is founded off egalitarian principles, of which extend to gender ideologies. Women are sanctioned to work, vote, fight and become priests, they are said to have as much authority over utopian affairs as men. Although there are various pragmatic constraints placed on women. For example, women are not allowed to do as hard labour as men. Such limitations do little to alter the staggering degree of freedom that utopian women are afforded compared to 16th century women of England. Although, Utopian women hold a basically equal secular standard to women, when choosing a spouse it states “boys cannot marry until they are 22, while girls can marry at 18”. Utopians are monogamous people and thus uphold the idea that it is necessary to choose the correct spouse women are suggested to get married earlier whereas men are suggested to delay the process. It is said to be a husbands responsibility to unsure proper discipline of his wife, every wife must confess to their husbands. Thus for female inhabitants of the island it becomes a nightmarish proposal devoid of hope and perhaps a feminist dystopia. The small indifferences between genders betray the underlying influence of sixteenth century Europe, Thomas More creates a society in which women are given more rights and power than in any existence and yet cannot escape the European conviction that women are inferior.

Although conventional sixteenth century civilisation had many concerns, some of the most important social and political problems was the death penalty. Over 200 crimes were punishable by death such as cutting down a tree, small thefts and other crimes. The death penalty was both unethical and impractical. Impractical, due to the fact that murder and cutting down a tree allude to the same punishment makes one consider that it may be more practical to kill the person from which they stole to reduce risk of getting caught. Unethical, due to the loss of many almost innocent lives or harmless struggles to survive. It is most critical that we consider what instigated the rise in crime rates in this period. Most crimes have a peculiar connection to private property. Private property, central to many debates in corrupt upper class, was considered one of the most pivotal issues in England. Everyone wanted as much land, land essentially was a sign of wealth and fortune. On the other end of the scale, poverty stricken people stole as a means to get food for themselves and families. Many writers of the time suggest a colossal economic inequality in England. Thomas More believed that the people need to be given a way to exist that entirely alleviates the need to steal, he wanted to create a society where both classes, peasantry and upper class exist comfortably, securely and contentedly.

To conclude, more writes about a fictitious nature full of idealistic values and how this transcends the faults in 16th century English society, his ideas are transcendent of time and thus valid in todays society, 500 years after composition. The notion of having an ultimate goal and living life in accordance to a “perfect world” gives civilians aspirations and assists in improving society; specifically its systems and structures. By pointing out faults in society we create constant improvement, a concept fundamental for future generations. Today, popular protest movements such as climate change and refugee crises have exacerbated our need to discuss why its essential to imagine a better future and news our interest in the idea of utopia. Instead of criticising faults of Thomas Mores created world we should accept them, think critically and essentially construct our own idea state. In that sense, More made his work applicable to all states, all times and all readers remaining as relevant as ever.