Living In Utopia Essay, Research Paper

Living in Utopia

Private property is abolished in Utopia, and society is communally organized in such a way that there is no shortage and that everyone has work, food, a home and opportunities for cultural expression. Sounds great, eh? Would you like to live there, and if not, why? Your answer should take account of More’s context (why he wrote Utopia?) and should be supported by reference to the text.

In Thomas More’s Utopia life is very structured there is no crime or prejudices. The people live everyday the same as the last. They dress the same, live in houses that are all designed the same, have very strictly scheduled workdays, and very regulated family life. “Whatever you may think of their doctrines, you won’t find a more prosperous country or a more splendid lot of people anywhere on earth.”

In Utopia there is no such thing as private property so there is no crime. Everyone has what they need and can get anything that they need without complications. Money is not existent therefore when the people of Utopia need groceries or any other necessities they go to the store and get what they need. This is why there is no crime; everyone is welcome to help themselves to other people’s belongings. All of the houses consist of a front door, which leads to the street, and a back door that leads into a garden. These doors are double swing-doors that open easily and close behind you. The homes consist of these types of swinging doors so that anyone can go in and out when they please.

Not only are all the houses designed the same but all the people also dress alike. Everyone wears the same sort of clothes-except that they vary slightly according to sex and marital status. Their fashion never changes either therefore there are no tailors or dressmakers. The outfits are very simple and loose. They don’t need to be wearing anything fancy because everyone looks the same.

The working days are scheduled to a tee. The people must work six-hour days, three hours in the morning, and then they get lunch. After lunch they get a two-hour break then they have to finish off their workday with three more hours in the afternoon. After work everyone goes home for supper and then they have some free time. Bedtime is 8 o’clock sharp and everyone must sleep for eight hours. The time that is not already planned out for them, they are free to do whatever they want, but this time must be used wisely.

The family organization is quite interesting considering they actually keep track of the amount of people in your home. There is a law that states that no household shall consist of less than ten or more than sixteen adults. When two people get married, the woman moves to live with her husband’s family. The boys must stay in their homes to live under the control of their oldest male relative.

Utopia can be considered the perfect world, the people are all happy and everyone gets along. At one point in the book Utopia is actually referred to as Happiland, which it may truly be. Living in a world with no crime and therefore no worries of murder, rape, and burglary would be such a great place to live. Their time schedules even sound pretty relaxing compared to my own. On the other hand they must do the same thing everyday, I would need to make some change in my life once in a while. I think living in a community where the houses are all uniform and everyone dresses alike would seem so boring. I don’t understand how people would be able to live in a life where nothing is ever different. From what I have heard More made up this Happiland and some people may think that it sounds like a great place to live. In my own opinion I don’t feel a place like Utopia could possibly exist. “To my mind, it’s not only the best country in the world, but the only one that has any right to call itself a republic.” This may be one of the best statements that I have found on the whole idea of Utopia. But in my eyes it would not be enough for me to keep myself occupied.