Utopia by Sir Thomas More | Summary & Analysis

Course Hero Literature Instructor Russell Jaffe provides an in-depth analysis of the plot, characters, symbols, and main ideas in Sir Thomas More's novel Utopia.


Sir Thomas More's Utopia is a satirical novel that brought us today's common word for a perfect society. More coined the word "utopia" from the Greek for "good place."

The story is structured as a series of conversations between More and fictional traveler Raphael Hythloday, who has just returned from a journey during which he visited the titular island. This supposedly ideal civilization is governed by ideas that are by turns egalitarian and draconian—property and work are divided equally, but punishments for certain relatively minor offenses are severe.

The novel, interpreted as both a sly critique of European governance and of the notion that society can be perfected, remains influential in the creation of imaginary worlds.

Later authors built on the ideas laid out in Utopia to write utopian and dystopian books such as 1984, Brave New World, and Walden Two. The idea of utopia has also influenced the development of such political philosophies as communism and the cooperative and commune movements.

Sir Thomas More, one of the most famous men in European history, first published Utopia in Latin in 1516. He never describes a particular purpose in writing Utopia. However, scholars agree it is a combination of social satire and genuine philosophical thinking.

The book contains many powerful themes, such as property and wealth, the perfect place, and crime and punishment. Symbols include the island representing Utopia’s uniqueness and isolation from the world, and gold representing the futility of greed in a society where everyone’s needs are met.


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[btetschner]

Thank you so much for this presentation. I think it is excellent and found it to be very useful. I love watching your videos and I hope that the rest of your audience appreciates these playlists.

[eugeeltano]

This guy is so passionate! Amazing. Ill try to read the book it seems so interesting

[반석위의러시아문화]

As far as I remember, Utopians can be engaged in any creative or academic activities if they want to or if they are acknowledged to have enough abilities. Thus their life seems not so boring to me.

[salometipsandtricks]

Hello everyone 👋 😊 and blessed be y'all honest and straight forward people.

[misshaya]

Thank you so much you explain this very well. I'm very grateful.

[msinvincible]

I wonder why Utopia became a word for an ideal world. With a few exceptions, Utopia seems a nightmare

[aylinkoc]

thank you so much. the explanation was very good!

[charleyroth-douquet]

This was stellar! thank you! Great presentation

[Alphonium]

Utopia does not mean the 'perfect place' it means the 'no place'. However, in Latin 'Eutopia' would mean the 'perfect place' (more accurately the 'good place')

[michaelmccomb]

“He wrote the history of King Richard III in 1557”
No, Thomas More was executed by Henry VIII in 1535

[kevinflores]

really good video. Thank you for the utopian summary.

[Sodapoppish]

What are the main aspects of Utopia ? @Course Hero

[fabian]

How can gold not be valuable to them if they are able to pay for goods or services from outsiders with it??

[andreasneumann-pwzw]

Reminds me of an obscure long forgotten 90s science fiction tv series?!

[robherrgott]

1492 - Columbus discovers "new world". 1516 - More writes Utopia.

[yogesh]

Nice video.... Sir could u plz make a video for the summary, characters and themes of novel 'The Price' by arthur Miller

[danielkingsley]

You should do one on the Communist📕 Manifesto

[justsomeone]

A utopia is created by one’s ideals/opinions of a perfect paradise based on their likings
Simply put, it’s a delusion

[michelerich]

the little figures striking poses got so distracting lol

[solmon]

Nice presentation

The perfect place Utopian were in Now is the name of Ethiopian.and the historys become in Ethiopian History the other name Abesinya (ኢትዮጵያ)