More to the Point: the Challenge of Sifting Through the Satire in Utopia
More to the Point: the Challenges of sifting through the Satire in Utopia
“We made no inquiries, however, about monsters, which are the routine of traveler’s tales. Scyllas, ravenous Celaenos, man-eating Lestrygonians, and that sort of monstrosity you can hardly avoid, but to find governments wisely established and sensibly ruled is not so easy” (More, 509). Utopia., written by Thomas More, is the infamous account of a ‘perfect’ society nestled away from the prying eyes and influences of the chaotic Western World. More’s tale of this faultless land, which exists without poverty, strife or all the general sufferings members of European society are subject to, is riddled with satire, irony and humours side comments much like the quote above. The entire work is one continuous satire, commenting on the ‘obvious’ benefits of a communist, perfected society over the way which England was being run at the time.
In Utopia More presents his readers with several challenges on an intellectual level, some of these tests however are perhaps not as intentional as others. Throughout the book, specifically in his descriptions of the geography and societal set-up of the Utopian cities, More challenges his readers to be witty and intelligent enough themselves to be able to pick up and gain the full effect of not only his blatantly satirical comments, but his more subtle jabs and side remarks as well (such as his use of particular Greek words). Some of his less obvious references require the reader to have some scholarly background, such as a general knowledge of the languages of Latin and Greek. He also, through his use of satire, presents to his readers situations in which their own thoughts and beliefs may be questioned. More may make a statement which, at first glance, appears so ludicrous that it can not possibly be anything but a joke; however, the longer one thinks about said statement, the more plausible and reasonable, in theory, it sounds. More challenges the reader to
“We made no inquiries, however, about monsters, which are the routine of traveler’s tales. Scyllas, ravenous Celaenos, man-eating Lestrygonians, and that sort of monstrosity you can hardly avoid, but to find governments wisely established and sensibly ruled is not so easy” (More, 509). Utopia., written by Thomas More, is the infamous account of a ‘perfect’ society nestled away from the prying eyes and influences of the chaotic Western World. More’s tale of this faultless land, which exists without poverty, strife or all the general sufferings members of European society are subject to, is riddled with satire, irony and humours side comments much like the quote above. The entire work is one continuous satire, commenting on the ‘obvious’ benefits of a communist, perfected society over the way which England was being run at the time.
In Utopia More presents his readers with several challenges on an intellectual level, some of these tests however are perhaps not as intentional as others. Throughout the book, specifically in his descriptions of the geography and societal set-up of the Utopian cities, More challenges his readers to be witty and intelligent enough themselves to be able to pick up and gain the full effect of not only his blatantly satirical comments, but his more subtle jabs and side remarks as well (such as his use of particular Greek words). Some of his less obvious references require the reader to have some scholarly background, such as a general knowledge of the languages of Latin and Greek. He also, through his use of satire, presents to his readers situations in which their own thoughts and beliefs may be questioned. More may make a statement which, at first glance, appears so ludicrous that it can not possibly be anything but a joke; however, the longer one thinks about said statement, the more plausible and reasonable, in theory, it sounds. More challenges the reader to
Cited: Branham, R. Bracht. “Utopian Laughter: Lucian and Thomas More”. Moreana- 86 (1985): 23-43 Marius, Richard. "Utopia as a Mirror for a Life and Times." Loyola College of Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland. 2 Mar. 1995. Na <http://www.humanities.ualberta.ca/emls/iemls/conf/texts/marius.html>. Thomas More. ‘Utopia’. The Norton Anthology of English Literature: The Sixteenth and Early Seventeenth Century. M.H. Abrams, Stephen Greenblatt. 7th Ed. New York: W.W Norton & Company, 2000, 506-523.