![]() For the purpose of the following Summaries and Commentaries, the name More will refer to the fictional character while Sir Thomas More refers to the author. In particular, the character of More should not be taken to hold the same views as Sir Thomas More himself. The fictional characters of the book, however, should not be considered to be direct translations of these historic personalities to the page. Preview text Sir Thomas More Utopia General Summary Note: The characters of More, Giles, and Morton all correspond in biographical background to actual historical people, Sir Thomas More (author of Utopia), the Humanist thinker Peter Giles, and former Chancellor of England Cardinal John Morton. The Emancipation Proclamation - The Grapes of Wrath.He does admit, however, that he would like to see some aspects of Utopian society put into practice in England, though he does not believe any such thing will happen. More concludes that many of the Utopian customs described Hythloday, such as their methods of making war and their belief in communal property, seem absurd. Hythloday finishes his description and More explains that after so much talking, Giles, Hythloday, and he were too tired to discuss the particular points of Utopian society. It is a society that Hythloday believes is superior to any in Europe. Next, Hythloday moves to a discussion of Utopian society, portraying a nation based on rational thought, with communal property, great productivity, no rapacious love of gold, no real class distinctions, no poverty, little crime or immoral behavior, religious tolerance, and little inclination to war. He explains how the founder of Utopia, General Utopus, conquered the isthmus on which Utopia now stands and through a great public works effort cut away the land to make an island. Back from lunch, Hythloday describes the geography and history of Utopia. More and Giles do disagree with the notion that common property is superior to private property, and the three agree that Hythloday should describe the Utopian society in more detail. Hythloday points out that the policies of the Utopians are clearly superior to those of Europeans, yet adds that Europeans would see as ludicrous the Utopian policy of common property. Hythloday then goes on to make his point through a number of other examples, finally noting that no matter how good a proposed policy is, it will always look insane to a person used to a different way of seeing the world. Hythloday uses this story to show how pointless it is to counsel a king when the king can always expect his other counselors to agree with his own beliefs or policies. His proposals meet with derision, until they are given legitimate thought the Cardinal, at which point they meet with great general approval. During this dinner, Hythloday proposed alternatives to the many evil civil practices of England, such as the policy of capital punishment for the crime of theft. To make his point, Hythloday describes a dinner he once shared in England with Cardinal Morton and a number of others. ![]() A disagreement follows, in which the three discuss reasons for his position. Hythloday refuses even to consider such a notion. He describes the societies through which he travels with such insight that Giles and More become convinced that Hythloday would make a terrific counselor to a king. Hythloday has been on many voyages with the noted explorer Amerigo Vespucci, traveling to the New World, south of the Equator, through Asia, and eventually landing on the island of Utopia. The three men retire to house for supper and conversation, and Hythloday begins to speak about his travels. Giles soon introduces More to this new man, Raphael Hythloday, who turns out to be a philosopher and world traveler. One day, More sees Giles speaking to a bearded man whom More assumes to be a captain. ![]() Summary More travels to Antwerp as an ambassador for England and King Henry While not engaged in his official duties, More spends time conversing about intellectual matters with his friend, Peter Giles. Related Studylists 1303 Preview text Sir Thomas More Utopia General Summary Note: The characters of More, Giles, and Morton all correspond in biographical background to actual historical people, Sir Thomas More (author of Utopia), the Humanist thinker Peter Giles, and former Chancellor of England Cardinal John Morton.
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