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Utopia & Utopian Literature

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Book Summary for Utopia

Sir Thomas More Biography

Life of Sir Thomas More
Other Works of Thomas More

About Utopia and Utopian Literature

Historical Background
The Utopian Theme
Utopian Literature Before More
Utopian Literature After More
Anti-Utopias
Established Utopian Communities
Publication Data for More's Utopia

Summary and Analysis for Book I: The Dialogue of Counsel

Setting the Stage
Opening of the Discussion
The Meeting at Cardinal Morton's House
Hypothetical Meeting of the French Council
The Council for Financial Affairs
More Versus Hythloday on Public Service

Summary and Analysis for Book II: The Discourse on Utopia

Geographical Features of Utopia
Country Life
The Cities
Officials
Occupations
Population Control
Markets
Community Life
Travel
The Economy
Learning
Philosophy
Slavery
Euthanasia
Marriage and Divorce
Laws
Treaties and Alliances
War
Religion
Peroration
More's Concluding Observation

Read the Original Text for Utopia

Introduction
Section 1: Discourses of Raphael Hythloday, of the Best State of a Commonwealth
Section 2: Of Their Towns, Particularly of Amaurot
Section 3: Of Their Magistrates
Section 4: Of Their Trades, and Manner of Life
Section 5: Of Their Traffic
Section 6: Of the Travelling of the Utopians
Section 7: Of Their Slaves, and of Their Marriages
Section 8: Of Their Military Discipline
Section 9: Of the Religions of the Utopians

Critical Essays

The Composition of Utopia

Study and Homework Help

Quiz
Essay Questions

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Summary and Analysis for Book II: The Discourse on Utopia

Markets

Little by little, we are being shown how people live in a society operating on the basis of idealized communism. Nobody receives wages or rewards for his labor. What he receives is free housing, free food, clothing, and all necessary provisions. Certain psychological benefits may also be deduced, though More does not emphasize them in this part of the book. Those benefits are a knowledge that each citizen has a voice in the government and that everyone is on an equal footing. Later in the book, More, through Hythloday, will consider the merits and defects of the system. At present, he is merely stating the facts.

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