The aim of this paper is to point out some of the main trends in current criticism
of More’s Utopia, by presenting and discussing some of the most important theses from
the most representative critical writings from each of the aforementioned arches of
interpretation. Special attention will be given to the question in how far it is justifiable
to read Utopia as a negative concept, albeit even partly, or even as the first dystopia. In
order to analyse this, a number of aspects has to be considered first. One has to
differentiate between the questions of More’s intentions and modern readers’ point of
view on the Utopian commonwealth. Even if More meant his island to be ideal and a
blueprint for a new and better society, which is itself already very disputable, it does not
necessarily mean that it can still be seen as such. Most modern reader cannot be
expected to see Utopia as society which is anywhere near perfect or desirable. Values,
of societies as well as individuals, have shifted in their meaning and focus between the
era of Tudor England and today. It is also rather questionable in how far the utopian
society would have appeared as ideal to More’s contemporaries, especially in regard to
its communism and its religious practices.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- A Serious Concept of an Ideal State
- Satire and Dystopia
- Summary and Conclusion
- Literature
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
The primary objective of this paper is to examine the various interpretations of Sir Thomas More's Utopia, focusing on the debate between those who view it as a serious blueprint for reform and those who see it as satire or dystopia. The paper aims to discuss these different readings in the context of modern criticism, particularly highlighting the argument for Utopia as a negative concept or even the first dystopia.
- Multiple Interpretations of Utopia
- The Debate Between Idealism and Satire
- Utopia as a Negative Concept or Dystopia
- More's Intentions vs. Modern Reader's Perspectives
- The Relevance of Utopia in Modern Society
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter introduces the various interpretations of Utopia, outlining the four main arches of critical analysis: Utopia as a serious blueprint for reform, Utopia as an abstract idea of an ideal society, Utopia as satire, and Utopia as a dystopia. The chapter also discusses the limitations of this paper and the importance of considering Utopia's enduring relevance.
- A Serious Concept of an Ideal State: This chapter focuses on the interpretation of Utopia as a blueprint for reform, examining Karl Kautsky's argument that More intended Utopia to be an ideal state and a communist model for England. The chapter critiques Kautsky's socialist bias and discusses the difficulties of equating More's views with those of the Utopians, particularly regarding religious practices.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The key words and focus topics of this paper include Sir Thomas More's Utopia, utopian literature, dystopian literature, satire, political philosophy, social reform, communism, and the interpretation of literary texts. This paper explores the complexities of reading Utopia through different lenses, analyzing the debate between idealist and satirical interpretations and the potential for viewing Utopia as a negative or dystopian concept.
- Quote paper
- Magister Jelena Vukadinovic (Author), 2009, Different Readings of Sir Thomas More’s Utopia - from an Ideal state to the First Dystopia, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/126090
