The utopian community is one, which had exceptional accuracy through its communal concept. The communal agricultural activities in Utopia satirized the reality of the 16th century England. It brought about notions of a community living in equilibrium when the reality of the time displayed the opposite. His opposition of Catholicism and the government led to his execution regardless of the fact that he spoke reality. His Utopian nation creatively produces a society he wished for to see people treated equally in religious, political and property ownership aspects. He knew of its impossibility given the atrocities of the 161th century, and that made him produce the utopian challenge for the involved institutions.
Thomas More's Utopia as a Criticism of 16th Century England
There are several notions put in utopia by Thomas More. There is the religious aspect, power sharing and the evils of the private property contrasts in the contemporary England in the 16th century. The Utopian creation by More is a satirical mirroring of the society as well as his own life. His audiences attracted despite their opposition of the idea of communalism as compared to private ownership of property. In regard to this point More maintains that, 'for when an insatiable wretch, who is a plague to his country, resolves to enclose many thousand acres of ground, the owners as well as tenants are turned out of their possessions, by tricks, or by main force' (More). The communal agricultural activities in Utopia satirized the reality of the 16th century England. He puts so much focus in Utopian notions like religious belief tolerance and political injustices England experienced in the 16th century. His satirical contrast and criticism brings his radical propositions of abolishing private property. The Utopia described is initially as an island, which Utopians' conquered and brought prosperity than the countries around it. Utopia comes as a communal state where the occupants of the society share what they have equally. Officials made sure that food supply in the society remained balanced. Receiving anything from the officials was as easy as asking for what one required. In Mores opinion, the Utopian world he displayed is one, which gave its citizens whatever they needed. It is a criticism of private ownership of property, which denies other people accessibility to property use.
The Utopia is also a reflection of England in the 16th century. Through the present homogeneity in Utopia, the injustices England faced during that time satirized. It was all about the laziness of people doing very little for the country, still managing luxurious lifestyle. These people enjoyed while those who did the hard work remained in abject poverty regardless of their hard labor. 'The price of wool is also so risen that the poor people who were to make cloth are no more able to buy it' (More). There was a hierarchical representation of England in Utopia without any aim focusing on its citizens' welfare. 'Yet they are in so few hands, and these are so rich' (More). Utopia had efforts of satire, which critically involved Europe's political dishonesty and the insincerity in the religion. More was a Roman Catholic Humanist and had one best friend, who was a philosopher, writer, and travelled, around countries. "…sailed not as a seaman, but as a traveler, or rather a philosopher" (More). He was a man known for having vast experiences and shared knowledge about the different cultures including the mode of administration of other countries. He often made it clear on how they differed from Utopias own. He also expressed his opinion on how he discontented with the way things happened in Utopia as compared to the places he traveled. Utopias main objective was to address issues that needed adjustment in the entire society of England. Utopia reflected the absurdity and struggles of the writers' culture in time thus; it was a necessary obligation to expose the state of Utopia.
At one point, More continued justifying theft as a lack of an option, which made jobless and handicapped persons resort to theft as a means of survival. "If you do not find a remedy to these evils, it is a vain thing to boast of your severity in punishing theft, which though it may have the appearance of justice, yet in itself is neither just nor convenient" (More). Contrary to the belief of England in the policies governing justice, it came out that man could choose to live an upright life or become a criminal. That is a point, which More does not agree with, arguing that ending a person's life because of theft money was rather a ruthless sentence since it never created possible alternatives to unemployment. There was a need for creation of better policies, which would ensure sufficient provision for everyone just like in Utopia and not the privatization policies depriving the larger community, and leaving wealth in the hands of a few people. In utopia, slaves were free to take food, drinks and clothes from friends, and not allowed to take money. However, the economic, social and political aspects in England promoted theft. These were like the preserved soldiers, exploitation from the rich and enclosure movement that stole the livelihood of peasants. It was like, "manufacturing thieves and then blaming them for being thieves" (More).
The circulation of money was available to Christian Monks, because the king had a feeling that this would add up the commerce and exchange. There was also a superstitious opinion that gained popularity that suggested that money and possessions in a country, would increase injustice and promote a poor administration. Utopias economy depended on revenues, lands, gold and treasures. "As long as there is property, and while money is the standard of all things, I cannot think that a nation can be governed either justly or happily; not justly" (More).
Utopia is multi-denominational; and yet nevertheless, they still believed that there was one highest mortal. This empowers more insight of upholding Christian observation as the only means of rescuing the society from the atrocities like the ones England faced. In his portrayal of the leadership of England and comparing it with those of Utopia, he comes up with a proposition to streamline the flaws, which existed at the time regarding leadership and policies. "The setting is on acquiring new kingdoms, right or wrong, than on governing well those they possess" (More). That is the challenge, which faces England in its bid for curbing theft from the society. The rules laid down for punishing offenders like thieves thought to be, in conformity, to biblical commandments against theft. No wonder, the cardinal resorts to More for an opinion of the best means of punishing thieves, other than using capital punishment on criminals. Being a Christian More is apt in mentioning the high handedness of capital punishment notably as blasphemy against Gods command for no killing. "That the soul of man is immortal, and that God of His goodness has designed that it should be happy; and that He has, therefore, appointed rewards for good and virtuous actions, and punishments for vice, to be distributed after this life" (More).
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