Renaissance Lyrics - More\'s Utopia IV PDF

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Unybook: arodrigueslopez

Opening section of Book II of Utopia Identification: This is an excerpt taken from Thomas More’s The Best State of a Commonwealth and the New Island of Utopia’s Book II, published in 1516, although Book II was written before Book I, probably written in 1515. Commentary: explain literary devices used in the excerpt. Crescent moon, womb-like, connotations: the shape of the island in the mind of the readers (isolation) is not the result of nature but of history, as the topography of Utopia was the result of war, when the winning party had the peninsula turned into an island. The perspective of the islanders was that of imprisonment and oppression. There are difficulties to get into the island, if they don’t want you there you will end up dead. It’s a political system made by people who don’t want other people to come to their island, it is a microeconomic system As we mentioned before, Utopia is the result of a war. The first foundation of the country is an act of war and, then, of the violent act of isolation – you are there to prevent progress or change. That’s why we observe that, later, Utopos wrote a constitution without a reform clause. There are 54 cities that symbolize More’s time’s England, which was made of 53 shires + the city of London. It makes an equivalent to a real society.

[Utopian view of riches, gold, and jewels] not really a chapter, but it is a section. Commentary: how to assign value: if there is little of something it is more valuable. Other criteria used was utility, if it’s useful it’s valuable. Another reason could be aestheticism. They find this nonsensical and invalid. They only value material for its utility. What do they do with gold? They make chains for slaves and for children as toys, and lastly, for chamber pots. Children learnt that gold was dirty and used to do our necessities, and also, meant lack of freedom.

Of their military discipline Commentary: against war with exceptions seen in this excerpt. They are in favor of killing the leader without jeopardizing the lives of other people, it’s called magnicide.

Euthanasia and suicide Commentary: you need approval to kill yourself. You should not use extraordinary artificial measures to extend one’s life.

Marriage and divorce in Utopia

Unybook: arodrigueslopez Commentary: divorce on mutual consent. There was also a nude show as a rebellion against the customs; the institution of marriage was being rebelled against.

Utopia was a dictatorship but there were elections. Everybody works less hours per day, this makes them happier....