Utopia+by+Thomas+More

The Semblance of Reality: Fighting Cynicism with Uncertainty //A Response to Thomas More’s Utopia// Thomas More’s //Utopia// is an undeniable critique of problems in14th century Europe. Book I is used to not only introduce the reader to Utopia, but also to begin making connections between contemporary societal injustices and the fictional civilization’s solution to these problems. However, structuring his novel to reflect the problems within his society and offer solutions to eliminate them created difficulties for More. He wrote this novel to demonstrate his ideal remedy to injustice, but in the process he created a society that was nothing more than a fiction, a fabricated invention, and a lie. In doing so, More risked appearing to be nothing more than a pretentious writer who believes he alone holds the keys to the future. More had to be cautious in how he presented his arguments, being careful not to simply state what //he// believed to be truth. He had to delve into the mind of the reader and acknowledge the suspicion and uncertainty that would cloud their thoughts as they read his radical ideas and solutions, while raising question as to where these ideas came from and whether or not a society of this type was even possible. Thus, in writing //Utopia//, Thomas More was intentionally ambiguous in order to create an environment where the readers would question the society’s existence, while grappling with the solutions this utopian community had adopted.

Perhaps the most ambiguous of More’s strategies was his attempt to make “no place” appear to be a //real// place. The literal translation of utopia is “no place.” A name like that would suggest that More was realistic in his understanding that a society like Utopia could never exist in our world, as several of its ideals and practices go against human nature and desire. However, despite that, More goes to great lengths to make his novel contain some semblance of reality. He begins the book with conversation between him and a few other men, briefly debating some of the decisions lifestyle changes the Utopians have made. By making himself a character, More blurs the line between fiction and reality, causing just enough doubt in the readers mind to make them question, even for just a second, whether or not it’s possible this Utopia does exist somewhere.

But that tactic was subtle in comparison to his next attempt to make the reader believe in Utopia. More created (or may have had others help create) a series of supplemental items to the text that challenge the image of Utopia and raise questions about its existence. First, he supplemented the text with a series of letters responding to Utopia. The letters speak about the society as if it were real, and offer (mostly favorable) critique of the described civilization. The most important of the letters came from a man named Peter Giles, a real friend of More’s who was also given a fictional role. Using this character to promote //Utopia//, More was able to play with the reader’s mind, and keep them continuously questioning the potential for this society’s existence.

More may have done this under the belief that if the reader thinks there is even a chance the Utopian society exists, the idea of perfection will no longer be out of the realm of possibility. Once the reader has opened their mind to the idea of a society where poverty, greed, unreasonable punishment, and inefficiency have been eliminated, they also open their mind to the possibility of creating those sentiments in their own community. More understood that his Utopia would not be viewed as complete perfection by everyone and that his thoughts and theories would be constantly challenged. However, he also believed that if he could infiltrate the negative perceptions and cynicism that clouded people’s minds, he could plant seeds that would inspire change in the imperfect European Society they inhabited.

Alyson, This is a really interesting explanation of More's ambiguity. I like the idea that he uses ambiguity as a rhetorical strategy to provoke the thoughts of the reader. In explaining how the book is ambiguous, you address not only the ambiguity of More's position but the ambiguity of the reality or fictionality of Utopia. All of this uncertainty opens space for the reader to judge Utopia as well as their own society. Best, Matt Hartman
 * Comments **