The Utopian And Dystopian Texts

Thomas More’s book, Utopia, was constructed to criticize aspects of European life during the 1500s. One issue that More evaluates is the subject of politics and war. War during this time was used to gain territory or increase the ruler’s power. The Utopians are a peaceful group of citizens that rarely have any altercations occurring upon their island. They have a strict daily schedule that provides a minute amount of time for leisure, resulting in a low rate of problems. So why does More bring up the issue of war, if the people of Utopia infrequently misbehave? More analyzes this issue to exemplify how war was implemented in Europe under the reign of King Henry VIII. In addition, more describes the Utopians’ preparations when they engage in war. More wrote Utopia to provide the citizens of Europe with a source of hope for a new outlook on life.

Damon Knight’s “The Country of the Kind” follows a narrator who the audience at first knows little about, who lives in a society that is different from the norm, but is also initially left ambiguous. This sense of the unknown exists up until the narrator stumbles upon a pamphlet which opens up new viewpoints to the reader. The pamphlet serves to create three new perspectives in particular, all of which significantly shift the reader’s understanding of the story. First, it gives the reader a chance to understand the narrator and sympathize with him. Second, it offers a new perspective on society and their overall conception of what defines a utopia. The third and final perspective is that of the people who live within this society, and their interactions with the main characters. These three new perspectives prove to be formative in understanding the main character, his interactions with other characters in the story, and the role of society.

However, Skinner’s utopian viewpoint was not a newly-found idea, but a correlation of ideas from early childhood reading. Skinner wanted to use his own dissatisfactions in life as a piece of his motivation. Discussing openly with people how he felt when he watched his own wife print “housewife” in current occupation spots, made him come to the realization that people were struggling to save themselves from domesticity. After finishing a paper due soon, Skinner began to implement his current thoughts into the book, Walden Two (Altus & Morris, 2004).

Each person has their own vision of utopia. Utopia means an ideal state, a paradise, a land of enchantment. It has been a central part of the history of ideas in Western Civilization. Philosophers and writers continue to imagine and conceive plans for an ideal state even today. They use models of ideal government to express their ideas on contemporary issues and political conditions. Man has never of comparing the real and ideal, actuality and dream, and the stark facts of human condition and hypothetical versions of optimum life and government.

Speaker: Who is the speaker? Is he or she a trustworthy source? How do you know? Provide proof.

Fantasy is the process of imagining things that are impossible or improbable in literature. Fantasy if often used in correspondence to social criticism, which deals with the exposure of problems, issues and conditions in a society with a flawed social structure, where criticism usually addresses cultural, economic and political issues in a society. This paper will analyze two fiction based novels and the social criticism present throughout this genre of fantasy. With regards to social criticism, this paper will compare and contrast Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury and The Memoirs of a Survivor by Doris Lessing by analyzing how criticism is displayed according to the issues present in the novels, how violence or madness is portrayed and lastly, the pastoral utopian concept of a better place.

His concerns were based in the rapidly advancing genetic technology which was developing in the late 20th century, such as the development of IVF, and the mapping of the human genome, which made the direct implementation of eugenics possible. Niccol’s representation of his concerns is reflected in the society of Gattaca, in which genetic superiority is all that is valued. This is evidenced by the division of society into the genetically engineered and highly favoured ‘valids’, and the ‘invalids’, who are naturally born and are reduced to menial tasks. The cold conformity enforced in such an elitist environment is reflected in the indistinguishable clothing of all Gattaca employees, as well as the grey, metallic theme within the Gattaca building. In addition, Niccol demonstrates the impact of valuing genetic identity over human identity.

The so-called Utopia – the quasi-perfect society – flourishes in Margaret Cavendish’s “The Description of a New World, Called a Blazing World” and Sir Thomas More’s Utopia. While the former is a dreamlike account of fantasy rule and the latter a pseudo-realistic travelogue, both works paint a picture of worlds that are not so perfect after all. These imperfections glitter like false gemstones in the paths of these Utopians’ religious beliefs, political systems, and philosophical viewpoints.

In his book Utopia, Thomas More utilizes several different rhetorical devices to not only describe Utopia as a place, but also to compare the commonwealth of Utopia to the current state of Europe at the time. One literary device used throughout the novel is tone. While there are several other literary devices that contribute to the reading of Utopia, tone is one of the most useful in determining the views of More as an author. In Utopia, more usually sustains a satirical tone, sometimes accompanied by irony, comedy, and ambiguity. These elements help to convey to the readers what More’s truly intended message is. More utilizes the device of tone in Utopia in order to showcase the fundamental differences between Utopian and European society during that time.

In 16th century Europe, political corruption and religious upheaval swarmed both England and Italy, leaving bureaucratic instability across each nation. King Henry VIII, the ruler of Catholic England, initiated disputes through his incompliance with the teachings of the Catholic church during his governance. A prominent leader in the Catholic Church and English Parliament, Thomas More, observed a combination of these clashes. As an eye-witness to King Henry’s rule, More worked in the Parliament as Lord Chancellor to the King before resigning to avoid the Oath of Supremacy proposed in 1532. Before his self-removal from authority, however, More published a book, Utopia, in 1516, that addressed the tribulations that he saw within the immoral and corrupt English society.

Utopia is Sir Thomas More’s seminal work, depicting a fictitious island and its religious, social, and political customs. Working as an advisor to King Henry VIII, More was aware of the issues of his time such as ridiculous inflation, corruption, wars for little or no purpose, courtly ostentation, the abuse of power by the absolute monarchs, and the maltreatment of the poor. Consequently, More used Utopia to contrast some unique and refreshing political ideas with the chaotic politics of his own country. It is important to note that More did not intend to provide an exact blueprint for a perfect society, rather he merely presents his ideas in the form of a political satire, revealing the evils of his time.

Utopia, written by Sir Thomas More, is a fictional work of literature and a classic frame narrative, a story within another story. In this case, in Utopia two stories are told; both with same points of view and different narrators. More’s purpose to using a frame narrative is to be able to converse about the political and religious controversy in Europe of the 16th century without damaging his reputation and getting in trouble with king Henry VIII. In addition, while being in disguise, More also uses forms of writing to help express his concerns to the audience, such as satire and parody.

The world in any society has two sides, Utopia which is defined as the perfect world and the peaceful life that is free from disasters. This word " Utopia " is derived from Greek roots by Sir Thomas More which means "a good place" (More 37). Merriam Webster defined Utopia as "an imaginary place, all life aspects are perfect, as the world suffers from nothing" (Webster 19). while Dystopia is defined as an imagined universe in which the unequal society controls the fancy of an ideal society which are maintained through technological, moral, corporate or totalitarian control " Beauty of dystopia is that it lets us vicariously experience future worlds but we still have the power to change our own" (Condie 75). in which the genre challenges utopia’s

Utopia, by Sir Thomas More, is a socio-political commentary on the state of 16th century English society. Originally published in 1516, More’s work has divided scholars on his intentions; whether he wanted for readers to seriously consider his ideas as a blueprint for society, or whether Utopia was merely an avenue for satire on his country. By examining how the text is presented, as well as features of Utopian society, including communal property, its absence of sin, and their impracticality in Tudor England, it can be argued that More does not expect readers to conclude that Utopia is the best of commonwealth.

In Sir Thomas More’s Utopia, Thomas More is a man with earnest respect for his fluidity with his flaunts of the public, he lived in the Renaissance era and was a renowned humanist, lawyer and a personal friend of Henry VIII. In the beginning of the book, a letter is sent by More to his friend Peter Giles inquiring about editing and publication of his masterpiece “Utopia”. The first book “Utopia” summarizes a conversation between More and Giles conversing with Hythloday, the man who was enshrouded by the lands of Utopia.