Renaissance Traits Reflected in Utopia by Thomas More

Renaissance” literally means “rebirth.” It refers especially to the rebirth of learning that began in Italy in
the fourteenth century, spread to the north, including England, by the sixteenth century, and ended in
the north in the mid-seventeenth century. It was also an age of new discoveries, both geographical
(exploration of the New World) and intellectual.

The following renaissance traits are prominent in More’s Utopia: LOVE FOR CLASSICAL LEARNING:
During the Reanaissance period, there was an enormous renewal of interest in and study of classical
learning.More in his work ‘utopia’ has given lot of classical references like of Seneca,Cicero.While
criticizing follies and corruption prevailing in people working for government,He has made reference to
plato “This is why plato in a very fine comparison declares that wise men are right in keeping clear of
government matters”. HUMANISM: It is a system of thought that rejects religious beliefs and centers on
humans and their values. During Reanaissance era, Shallow ideas about human nature and man’s place
in a society melted away. More was a humanist. In more’s utopia emphasis has been put on human
welfare. Raphael Hythloday has given suggestions for improving condition of people of England.He says
“Nothing in the world that fortune can bestow is equal in value to a man’s life”.More’s Utopia has an
humanistic approach. REFORMATION: Religious movement known as the Reformation became a more
far-reaching influence, both on literary creation and on modern life in general.This renaissance trait is
most prominent in Thoams more’s Utopia. The main aim of the work Utopia was to reform the society.

More has realistically depicted the condition of England of that time and has provided the solutions to
improve it. CHANGE IN APPROACH:The period of Renaissance is also characterized by change in
approach. The approach during this period was changed from theocentric to homocentric. Thomas More
in his work Utopia has talked about life of this earth. He has realistically depicted the condition of
England and its people. PATRIOTISM: Patriotism is also an important feature of Renaissance. We can
observe the renaissance trait at various places in More’s Utopia. The narrator of Utopia,Raphael
Hythloday believes Private Property to be at the root of all society’s ills, he reasons, “that as long as
there is any property, and while money is the standard of all other things, I cannot think that a nation
can be governed either justly or happily “This shows his concern for his country. INDIVIDUALISM: it is a
social theory advocating the liberty, rights, and independent action of the individual. In Utopia Raphael
argues that punshing thieves with cruelty goes beyond the call of justice , and is not in any case, for the
public good.and also when thieves are sentenced to hard labor they should be allowed to have their
freedom and shouldn’t be given harsh treatment unless they try to escape. THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE:
The most noted feature of the Renaissance era was the Revival of Learning, an awakening of mind and a
thirst for the new knowledge. This resulted in a widespread study of art and literature and in a
broadening of outlook to a degree never before known. In More’s Utopia also this trait is well observed.
In Utopia, we observe Thomas more was always keen to get information about other places and people
and we come to know this through the statement of peter giles “for there is no man alive today can tell
you so much about uknown peoples and lands;and I know that you’re always greedy for such
information.” Through out the utopia, the willingness to learn has been considered as an important
reason for a happy life. All these Renaissance traits can be well observed in Thomas More’s Utopia.
Utopia, broaz dly conceived, is an image of a world not yet in existence,that is different from and far
better than the world we inhabit now.

Utopia: The Renaissance and More

born in London, 1478

studied law at Oxford

became a monk

entered Parliament in 1504

close friend of Erasmus

at odds with King Henry VII

favoured by King Henry VIII

helped write Henry's 'Defense of Seven Sacraments', repudiation of Luther

aided in his persecution of Protestants

member of Privy Council

knighted

Lord Chancellor

disapproved of Henry's divorce and break with Rome

refused Act of Supremacy, recognizing Henry as Head of the Church

tried and found guilty of treason

'The King's good servant, but God's first.'

canonized in 1935

attacks capital punishment

executing thieves is neither morally nor practically justified

• attacks English practices of extravagance that he believes fuel moray decay

peasants are overburdened with work

growth of unemployment; agricultural land sold to nobility

need for new labor system; allowing women positions in the work force, enslaving criminals and
abolishing the landed elite

main reason for Utopian’s advancement is the nature of their education

“willingness to learn is the real reason for their being better governed and for their living more happily
than we do”

thirst for knowledge and general desire for personal self-betterment is evident

oligarchy, run by educated men

also a representative democracy

nobody is considered noble by birth

similar to Greeks and Romans; both used birth as a basis for status to an extent, but both had
democracy at some level

Utopia is characterized by a socialist economy, tolerant religious doctrine, and just social policy

Utopians have several religions which coexist peacefully

free to worship without fear of persecution

no private ownership

communal property that everybody must work for equally

Utopia is free of greed, violence, intolerance, “governed with so few laws”, yet “everything shared
equally, every man lives in plenty”

English society valued warriors and saw war as acceptable and desirable, Utopians “do detest and abhor
[warfare]” and “count nothing so much against glory as glory gotten in war”

neither a reflection of Renaissance England, nor a manifestation of More's deeply Catholic ideals

not suggesting adoption of Utopian values and customs, but these are used to emphasize English social
failure

Double meanings suggest that More believed no society could be truly perfect, and the fallibility of
human nature would prevent such a place from existing

mimics Plato’s Republic: books of political philosophy as told through dialogue

no action in the story; book consists almost entirely of dialogue

the second book is one character's description of the island of Utopia

Hythloday is a mouthpiece; expresses majority of the radical ideas and describes Utopia as a paradise

Hythloday does not necessarily express the author’s own views

character is a passive observer, a listener who only occasionally offers his own opinions and ideas
fundamentally disagrees with society based upon communist values is pragmatic and ambivalent, author
distances himself from his characters’ radical views More’s tone is scientific and anthropological

does not convey his own extreme and divergent beliefs

uses characters' dialogues to suggest that reform is essential

fictional cover of Utopia allowed More to express critique while also retaining a certain degree of
anonymity, preventing political persecution social satire creates speculation rather than truth, reader is
forced to discern own opinions on the state of contemporary England Utopia is an island discovered in
the New World by a sailor; the age of discovery More's character travels to Antwerp, shares
conversation; sharing of ideas from cultural centers of the Renaissance Raphael Hythloday is the
quintessential Renaissance man erudite philosopher, “eminently learned in Greek” reverence for
classical societies; holds up the Roman system of justice as being superior to England’s a sailor and
explorer; represents age of discovery and interest in the natural world Hythloday could also be
representative of Plato because of his radical ideas and distaste for politics debate over the ideal state of
a commonwealth was characteristic of the Northern Renaissance

During the Middle Ages, European economic structure was based on the feudal model; extravagant
lifestyle of nobility was funded by the labor of the peasantry Renaissance saw the fall of feudalism
economic model of Utopia counters feudalism; communal ownership and equal division of labor
representative democracy; elected rulers Utopia’s prince elected for life, mirrors Roman Emperor Plato’s
oligarchy with “modern” adjustments: if a governing citizen fails his people, he’s demoted

based on classical thought, but with “modern spin” – essence of the Renaissance

Use of ancient Greek terms: “syphogrant,” and “philarch": Utopians “keepeth divers signs and tokens of
the Greek language in the names of their cities and magistrates”

Utopians study the classical texts of Plato, Aristotle, Herodotus, Homer, Hippocrates

humanist revival of individualism and curiosity; self-motivated Utopian learning

emphasis on rational thought; Hythloday personifies logical debate

Return to Classical ideals of proper conduct and independent thinking, Plato’s belief that real change is
only possible when “philosophers become kings or kings become philosophers”
stress on education aligns with Christian Humanist values; “a proper educational program could
encourage individuals to read the early Christian writers and to encounter the attitudes of the early
period”

Reform through education as a means to carry out social improvement

Unlike contemporary England, both sexes have an equal opportunity to learn

More stresses the importance of education for both men and women highlights rationality; Utopia is so
advanced and has such great production rates because woman are, after all, “half the whole population”
decline of women’s rights in the Renaissance is heavily contrasted by increase of women’s rights in
Utopia, adding to satire although both men and women receive an education, women are subservient:
they are “governed” by the eldest male of their household humanism was initially rooted in Christianity;
however, evolved to be a more a secular ideology distinguished as a midpoint between piety and
atheism; break from strict orthodoxy of the Middle Ages values and customs of Utopia break away from
the fundamental Christian principles

• More was faithful Catholic, but Utopia seems to be incompatible with his views; creeds of tolerance,
allowance of euthanasia, divorce, and suicide

• Raises questions that are applicable to his own faith and era—can one dedicate himself to personal
worship, justice and wisdom?

Utopia preaches religious tolerance, publication in 1516 coincides with European religious tension prior
to the outbreak of the Reformation

principle of tolerance is in direct contrast to More’s severe persecution of Protestants during the
Reformation and his martyrdom in the name of Catholicism

So, More was Christian humanist whose work will remain a Renaissance classic.Utopia is an appeal to
reform England and return to classic ideals.Utopia continues to influence modern literature, politics, and
social structure.

More's death was a tragedy.