Thomas More and Utopia (Week 4)

Question 1

Who was Sir Thomas More

Answer 1

Was an arising legal star, father was a distinguished judge and his family was involved in law. (1478-1535)

Question 2

How did Guy describe him?

Answer 2

‘a man for all purposes’

Question 3

Peter Giles and Erasmus

Answer 3

‘I am sending the portraits so that, if fate should carry both of us off, we can in some form at least be with you. Peter and I halved the painter’s bill … so that we could make you a joint gift’
Erasmus to More, Louvain, 16 September [1517]

Question 4

What was Antwerp like in the C16th?

Answer 4

It had elaborate fortifications with extraordinary levelled buildings for the C16th where the wealth of merchants was high.

Question 5

What was More’s upbringing like? (poor or rich?) Why is this important?

Answer 5

Came from a wealthy background and had been working for London as a lawyer - he is therefore used to speaking to people with money and influence - aware of what money does to people: Utopia discusses this corrupting influence of money.

Question 6

Key Dates:

Answer 6

Summer 1515: began writing what is now Book II
October 1515: returned to England
December 1516: Utopia is published in Latin in Louvain
1535: he is executed for treason
1551: first English translation of Utopia is published.

Question 7

Features of Utopia - illustrations

Answer 7

When first published it had a few illustrations like the island of Utopia - arguably is a mirror image of London. A pointed criticism of the emerging metropolises with its large series of devolved authority.
The island of Utopia has a similar representation of similar institutions which allows him to comment on the government structure of London

Question 8

What are the essential features of Utopia?

Answer 8

Geography and topography
Population
Constitution and political structure
Social structure
Occupations
Resources
Leisure
Freedom of movement
Dress
Meals
Beliefs

Question 9

Discuss Geography and topography

Answer 9

Circulate people to control circulation of wealth and avoid people forming attachments to things - people cannot become materialistic. No private property - doesn’t want people to be idled.

Question 10

Discuss population

Answer 10

population control: colonies - excess people from towns and cities are relocated to colonies to maintain a stable level of population.
prescriptive and coercive culture forcing people to move around in certain ways

Question 11

Discuss constitution and political structure

Answer 11

More gives an elaborate description of different office holders and different elected powers - regular rotations of offices.
Different levels and elaborate consultative system preventing tyranny.

Question 12

Discuss Social Structure

Answer 12

Gerontocracy - older you are the more authority you have - in domestic or national environments - this is perpetuated in Utopia in multiple ways.

Question 13

Discuss Occupations

Answer 13

Everyone has to be useful no idleness

Question 14

Discuss Resources

Answer 14

Elaborate systems to avoid accumulation and avoid inequality

Question 15

Discuss Leisure

Answer 15

Have to do something self improving with your time when you aren’t working. Ornamenting your mind.

Question 16

Discuss Freedom of Movement

Answer 16

it is controlled

Question 17

Discuss Dress

Answer 17

very simple

Question 18

Discuss meals

Answer 18

community taken - like in dining halls.

Question 19

Discuss Beliefs

Answer 19

More advocates religious toleration. In the time that More was living meant that you had to be a part of the Roman Catholic Church - parishes were quite small, everything was communal, not a private existence.