THOMAS MORE: UTOPIA

Sir Thomas More was the first person to use the term “utopia,” describing an ideal, imaginary world
in his most famous work of fiction. His book describes a complex community on an island, in which
people share a common culture and way of life (“16th Century Dreams: Thomas More”). The term
he coined derives from the Greek word ou-topos meaning “nowhere,” (“Utopia Summary”).
Ironically, it is the opposite of the similar-sounding Greek word eu-topos meaning “a good place,”
(“Utopia Summary”). At its heart, the book poses the question of whether there could ever be such a
thing as a “perfect” world and served as a platform to highlight the chaos of European politics at th e
time.

The book, written in 1516, is More’s attempt to suggest ways to improve European society, using
“Utopia” as an example. More was a major figure of the English Renaissance who cared deeply
about the moral and political responsibilities of individuals. He eventually rose to one of the highest
offices in the land, and, as chancellor of England in 1529, came up against his own king with
disastrous consequences. More strongly opposed Henry VIII’s separation from the Catholic Church
and refused to sign the Oath of Supremacy, which would give King Henry more power than the Pope.
He was convicted of treason and was imprisoned in the Tower of London. They continued to urge
him to sign the oath, but he refused. He was sentenced to be hanged, drawn, or quartere d, the usual
punishment for traitors, but the king commuted this to execution by decapitation. While on the
scaffold, he declared that he died, “The king’s good servant, and God’s first” (qtd. in “Thomas
Moore” Wikipedia).

The society depicted in Utopia differs from the European society that Thomas More was living in at
the time, one rife with intrigue, corruption and mired by scandal. The author’s experience with
politics in his time and the Utopia that he invented demonstrates this contrasting relationship:
Utopia is communal, allowing its people to easily meet their needs, while European society is
described as a place where, “Idle monarchs and nobles seek to increase their own wealth and power
at the expense of the people, who are left in poverty and misery” (“Utopia: Theme Analysis”). Clearly
dissatisfied with the world he was living in, More sought to create a different place altogether on the
page—a world free of the hierarchies that ultimately cost the author his life.

Utopia presents many themes such as wealth, power, slavery, and causes of
injustice. The overarching theme throughout the book is the ideal nature of a
Utopian society. In Utopia, there is no greed, corruption, or power struggles due
to the fact that there is no money or private property. There is very little
hierarchy and everything is held in common where everyone’s needs are supplied.