Essay Sample on Utopia by Thomas Moore and We by Evgenii Zamiatin

Paper Type:  Essay
Pages:  8
Wordcount:  1957 Words
Date:  2023-03-02
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Utopia, Thomas Moore

Utopia is a social, political parody or satire and a fiction book that was written by Thomas Moore and published in1516 in the Latino language (Wilde, 2016). The book is a story within a story, which is referred to as a frame narrative (Wilde, 2016). The book mainly portrays or represents a fictitious island community - their political, religious, and social duties. The main purpose of the utopia book was to demonstrate a society at its worst scenario, victimhood, or poetic justice. The writer aims at describing wrong things that come with civilization before introducing the island of Utopia, which name originates from Greek words "Topos and ou" (Wilde, 2016). In the book, the writer who was also a lawyer tried to explore the idea of an imaginary perfect society. More's work is divided into two books with the writer painting utopia as an egalitarian society (a society where individuals believe inequality to all persons) for the wellbeing of all occupants (Wilde, 2016).

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In book one of utopia Thomas More together with his friend Peter Giles questions a stubborn traveler called Raphael Hythloday (Wilde, 2016). There is the exchange of philosophical ideas between the three men on their interaction. The two friends Moore and Giles, are very excited by the wisdom of Raphael, and they inquire from him why he doesn't pursue employment as a king's servant. Raphael thought refuses the offer or suggestion from the two friends saying that he doesn't believe he could perform well at the courts because it disregards blind loyalty as well as partisanships that dwells only on praise and not the performance of individuals (Wilde, 2016). That shows the way the community was being led improperly, and it was against his ideologies. According to Moore and Giles, they believe that a person who has such great knowledge and wisdom is obliged to serve his country (Wilde, 2016).

During the conversation or dialogue between the three men, they have their focus on the country of England. Raphael condemns the country of England, stating that it has unrestrained civil codes and also the fact that distribution of wealth in done unfairly amongst the country's populations (Wilde, 2016). This is due to the favoritism between different social groups in society. Raphael analyses deeply to More and Peter, who are very attentive about some other European country that is economically troubled as a result of poor governance. Here the book explains the worst-case scenarios within the society (Wilde, 2016). Due to poor management, the community is mistreated, and people are subjected to unequal property ownership. There is also bad leadership due to the unfair favoritism of employees who serve the country. The government also expect servants to contain full loyalty even on wrong decisions (Wilde, 2016).

In book two, it starts as the three individuals who are More, Peter, and Raphael having a meal together. Here Raphael shares in detail the features of Utopia, which is an imaginary island (Wilde, 2016). The intellect discuses about the geographical features of the island, the social features, the community, education, marriage, and the work patterns that describe the island. The island, according to Raphael, has no borders and the people's main economic activity being farming. In the island people were learned as education was a normality amongst individuals and everybody assessed it (Wilde, 2016). He also states that depending on individual circumstances in marriage, divorce is also allowed. Raphael does not issue any negative comments or statements towards Utopia. He only praises the customs of the people as he describes they have a perfect system of government, good labor distribution, how well-traveled the utopians are, as well as being responsible people (Wilde, 2016).

Raphael explains that the people of Utopia were ambitious. They dug through narrow bismuth that was the connection between the island and the mainland while the neighboring villages made fun of them (Wilde, 2016). They were united, and they managed to achieve that in a short period. The island has natural harbors that are easy to navigate through because of its spherical shape. The city has fifty-four cities that are governed with the same laws have the same customs and institutions as well as sharing the same language. All of that was achieved due to the civilization in the island that was a result of the transformation of a rude and rustic mob to become a note of culture by Utopia (Wilde, 2016). There is the same plan layout in all the cities. The island is well-governed and has the capital city at it is center, which is named Amaurotic. Annually three delegates from each town are sent to the capital city where matters that are affecting people are discussed. This shows democracy as people are allowed to air their problems and participate in problem-solving (Wilde, 2016).

Economically Utopia is described as very Rich Island. The wealth comes from farming. Socially there is regulation of each household by the utopians, and the tenants are also organized into governable units. Every citizen must spend two years working for the country before returning home. This shows patriotism in citizens and loyalty. There is a distribution of hard labor among the citizens, no favoritisms. At the lost, last, everybody has excellent skills in agriculture, which leads to the country continuous growth of the economy (Wilde, 2016). Sharing is widespread between the villages and cities without expecting anything in return because of the surplus produce around the country. This shows a community that takes care of each other.

There is also no privacy in the country of Utopia. The citizens in the countries exchange houses after every ten years. The apartments usually are never locked, and a push of the hand opens them. There is trust among the people of the community who have learned to live well amongst themselves (Wilde, 2016). Unlike other countries who practice favoritism among their service people, Utopia has a free, open, and fairway of choosing their leaders. The history of the utopia country has been well preserved for over one thousand, seven hundred and sixty years (Wilde, 2016). From the family groups, magistrates are elected, while those who emerge to be the highest among the magistrate get to serve in the senate where they select the people's ruler who rules till death until he is suspected of dictatorship which is not allowed in Utopia. All the operations that govern the country are done in a certain way, like the public being discussed only on public assembly for everybody to witness. There is no conspiracy, and decisions are well thought about in all matters that detail the country (Wilde, 2016).

The community works together. Socially everyone is entitled to farming training though one might choose a different trade afterward. Children learn and follow the father's business, and if they wish for another trade, they are adopted in a family that conducts it. In the country, there are no orders of religions except people to work. There is no idleness in the country. The leaders and spiritual leaders are elected from the scholars. The oldest parent is the ruler of the homesteads, and the sons and grandsons start families in their youth. They live in extended families. There is trade done in markets, which is city centers. The leaders of the families make the trade through the exchange of items (Wilde, 2016).

Utopia, according to More, is a modern work and unique from its combination of agriculture and urban features. Compared to London, the country is compared to Eden, which is a perfect land. The people are hardworking, and the country is perfection, as described in urban planning (Wilde, 2016).

Evgenii Zamiatin, We (Penguin Classics)

The dystopian novel 'We' was written between 1920 and 1921 by Yevgeny Zamyatin, who was of Russian descent. The book was later translated in 1924 by Gregory Zilboorg (Amey, 2005). A totalitarian state is being described in the movie where their world lives in harmony as people comply with the rules and laws. The type of behavior of the people is referred to as traditionalism. The novel is futuristic. A space engineer lives in a state that is referred to as an urban state that is almost made of glass (Amey, 2005). The state structure is described as a panopticon, where only one guard can overlook prisoners, and the lives of the people are scientifically managed. The people are called or referred to by numbers, and they also wear uniforms and March together in movement (Amey, 2005). Strict rationed conditions are used to run the society. The reason is the base for justification towards the rules and laws that govern the organization. The behaviors of the people inside that community should be guided by reasoning according to the equations and formulas that are sketched by only one state (Amey, 2005).

The novel illustrates how the world is building complete space ship a few hundred years after the defeat of one state (Amey, 2005). The aim is to be able to fight, failure, and protect self from alien planets. The number D-503 knows the chief engineer of the project, and he wants the projects to be carried out across the world. He, too, like all other citizens are living in a glass apartment where he is watched by a secret security officer (Amey, 2005). He has a lover by the number 0-90 who is assigned to visit him by the state government at certain nights though she is perceived as too short to bear him children, and that perception puts her in grieve. 0-90 has another lover who is also a D-503 best friend by the number of R-13 who is a state poet and reads verses during public persecutions (Amey, 2005). Governance is seen to be too tight and strict that everything is decided for individuals. It is an old-school set of government, and a dictatorial for that matter, and people are also punished through persecution. It is an aggressive form of government as everything is based on conquering and protecting themselves from other nations (Amey, 2005). The citizens of the country are like prisoners. They are being watched every time they live in glass apartments, meaning no privacy or secrets, and they also wear a uniform and are called by numbers instead of names. The society is run by the government, which dictates everything (Amey, 2005).

The society is also immoral as people are seen to share lovers. 0-90 has two lovers who are best friends, and in one situation, we see that the government has allocated the females the duty to visit D-503 during specific nights (Amey, 2005). It can also be seen as a form of prostitution as the lady is to attend to D-503.also on another scenario where D-503 is working with 0-90, he meets with another woman I-330 who is taking alcohol and smoking cigarettes (Amey, 2005). The woman starts to flirt with him shamelessly, which is seen as wrong because she hadn't applied for an impersonal sexual visit. That is the requirement of the government following the law. As long as you use for an impersonal sex visit, you can flirt with anyone (Amey, 2005). According to the usual kind of society, sex is seen as a private and honorable act that should happen between two lovers and other ways apart from that can be prostitution, adultery, or also rape in certain situations.

The society is also corrupt. After D-503 is unable to resist I-330, he invites her to the ancient house that is the only one not made of glass apart from the windows (Amey, 2005). The reason for taking her there is so that they cannot be seen. Crucial things in the city are stored in the building. There D-503 is offered some corrupt services of a doctor that would explain why he was absent for work. He is in horror upon leaving and promises to report her, which he later realizes that he cannot (Amey, 2005)...

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Essay Sample on Utopia by Thomas Moore and We by Evgenii Zamiatin. (2023, Mar 02). Retrieved from https://proessays.net/essays/essay-sample-on-utopia-by-thomas-moore-and-we-by-evgenii-zamiatin

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