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3.26 AVERAGE
3.26 AVERAGE
What did I just read.
That book, is crazy, so much goes on.
Part one is heavy ramble
That book, is crazy, so much goes on.
Part one is heavy ramble
When I first started reading this for an English class, I thought, "What the hell is going on?" It had an extremely tedious introduction, but then More got into describing the details of Utopia, and some of them were genius for having been invented 500 years ago. Maybe some of the details aren't practical for today, but the fact that More was able to craft this is pretty amazing. Plus Thomas More was a pretty cool guy anyway. I almost gave this 2/5 stars because I thought it was a little boring and, despite some creativity, I actually disagreed with some of the ideas. However, the conclusion of the book bumped it up to 3 stars for me!
It challenged the contemporary society, questioning those conventions which allowed a minority to dominate while the majority were subjugated. In an age of suppression, censorship and inequality it made a plain and unequivocal attack on those elements which made life unfair for the poor. It also invented a new form of literature, adapting a form already prevalent and incredibly popular, but did so with imagination and scope, spawning a million imitators. The range of this influence can be traced right up to the modern day and generates billions in revenue through various creative media. And thirdly, more importantly, it revolutionised the manner by which we read, demonstrating a form of philosophy through its execution. It developed literature beyond a simple means of signs and signification, forcing the reader to think things and question the text in a way which wasn’t formally demonstrated until Roland Barthes and Jacques Derrida in the 20th Century. These three revolutionary elements are still with us today, either as an ongoing political debate, or as literary movements or techniques which are now so common we unfortunately take them for granted.
"Milyonlarca çocuğu, köreltici bir eğitimin pençesinde bırakıyorsunuz. Erdem çiçekleri açabilecekken bu körpe fidanlar gözlerinizin önünde kurtlanıyor; büyüyüp suç işledikleri zaman, yani içlerine çocukluktan giren kötülük tohumları acı meyvelerini verdiği zaman ölüm cezasına çarptırıyorsunuz onları. Sizin yaptığınız nedir biliyor musunuz? Asma zevkini tadabilmek için hırsızlık yaratmak."
[b:Utopia|18414|Utopia|Thomas More|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388190168s/18414.jpg|2798280] оказалась совсем не утопией!!!
Мне казалось, что представления о добре и зле у всех людей (тем более у тех, кто считает себя приверженцами одной и той же веры) более или менее одинаковы, но [a:Thomas More|3063220|Thomas More|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1253971140p2/3063220.jpg] со своей [b:Utopia|18414|Utopia|Thomas More|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388190168s/18414.jpg|2798280] (скорее, антиутопией) рассеял все мои сомнения на этот счёт.
Остров Утопия похож больше на тюрьму, чем на райский уголок: все ходят в одинаковой одежде, едят вместе, уезжать из города без разрешения нельзя и т. д. Развлекаться можно, да вот только "идеальных" утопийцев ничего кроме работы и науки не интересует!!! Работать надо по 6 часов в день, но им этого мало, так что работают и работают (как это напоминает СССР, где не только нужно было выполнить план, но и обязательно перевыполнить). Вообще, параллелей с Советским Союзом много, но в отличие от других антиутопий, которые критикуют подобную систему, [b:Utopia|18414|Utopia|Thomas More|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388190168s/18414.jpg|2798280] считает такое общество идеальным!!!
Мне казалось, что представления о добре и зле у всех людей (тем более у тех, кто считает себя приверженцами одной и той же веры) более или менее одинаковы, но [a:Thomas More|3063220|Thomas More|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1253971140p2/3063220.jpg] со своей [b:Utopia|18414|Utopia|Thomas More|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388190168s/18414.jpg|2798280] (скорее, антиутопией) рассеял все мои сомнения на этот счёт.
Остров Утопия похож больше на тюрьму, чем на райский уголок: все ходят в одинаковой одежде, едят вместе, уезжать из города без разрешения нельзя и т. д. Развлекаться можно, да вот только "идеальных" утопийцев ничего кроме работы и науки не интересует!!! Работать надо по 6 часов в день, но им этого мало, так что работают и работают (как это напоминает СССР, где не только нужно было выполнить план, но и обязательно перевыполнить). Вообще, параллелей с Советским Союзом много, но в отличие от других антиутопий, которые критикуют подобную систему, [b:Utopia|18414|Utopia|Thomas More|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388190168s/18414.jpg|2798280] считает такое общество идеальным!!!
I read this book solely so I could say that I have read it. And because I too want to be able to quote Thomas More as easily as Danielle does in Ever After. This experiment leads me to believe that Prince Henry was right all along. This book is a bit silly and sentimental.
Sure, More presents some interesting views. A society where everyone has the same opportunities and advantages in life as everyone else sounds wonderful, but how this was executed in this faux country does not sound wonderful. And the fact that this country relies on the power of slavery is a bit strange. I know this was written in a different age, one where views on slavery were quite different, but this addition feels weird. Since everything belongs to everyone anyway, why do you need slaves?
The book also included an elaborate set-up where this well-traveled, outspoken sailor was introduced. The author then debated with this sailor about different views on government and how society is run. Then the feel of the book shifts to an in-depth view of how this utopia operates.
Some of the views included were a bit strange to say the least. To me, this utopia felt very much like socialism, and that doesn't quite feel like a utopia to me.
Apparently, before people can get married, they must see each other completely naked. The rationale is that a buyer gets to see cattle naked before buying, so why shouldn't you be able to do the same to your bride-to-be? That notion sounds a bit demeaning to me.
This instance is just one of many strange views that I'm very thankful never came into being.
This book did explore some interesting things. It took a somewhat critical look at the monarchy system of government that was pretty much the only system at the time. I think it's important to question aspects of society and see someone else's perspective on society's issues. So I read this. And, while it was interesting to see More's views on society, I am a bit thankful we govern and live the way we do.
Sure, More presents some interesting views. A society where everyone has the same opportunities and advantages in life as everyone else sounds wonderful, but how this was executed in this faux country does not sound wonderful. And the fact that this country relies on the power of slavery is a bit strange. I know this was written in a different age, one where views on slavery were quite different, but this addition feels weird. Since everything belongs to everyone anyway, why do you need slaves?
The book also included an elaborate set-up where this well-traveled, outspoken sailor was introduced. The author then debated with this sailor about different views on government and how society is run. Then the feel of the book shifts to an in-depth view of how this utopia operates.
Some of the views included were a bit strange to say the least. To me, this utopia felt very much like socialism, and that doesn't quite feel like a utopia to me.
Apparently, before people can get married, they must see each other completely naked. The rationale is that a buyer gets to see cattle naked before buying, so why shouldn't you be able to do the same to your bride-to-be? That notion sounds a bit demeaning to me.
This instance is just one of many strange views that I'm very thankful never came into being.
This book did explore some interesting things. It took a somewhat critical look at the monarchy system of government that was pretty much the only system at the time. I think it's important to question aspects of society and see someone else's perspective on society's issues. So I read this. And, while it was interesting to see More's views on society, I am a bit thankful we govern and live the way we do.
Really enjoyed this, would like to read book 1 when I have some more time (Only read book 2 for class)
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Before I look at Thomas More’s Utopia, I want to look at the version by Robert Adams. This is a book originally written in Latin so it needs to be translated into English if I’m going to read it. This is a wonderfully casual translation, making full use of English idiom and adopting a playful learned-playful tone. The notes are even better, full of partisan opinions and sharp comments which are as entertaining as they are informative. Sometimes they’re more entertaining then the book itself.
Utopia is split into two parts. The first details how Thomas More met a learned traveller with revolutionary views on how to run a state based on his experience in distant lands. The traveller, Raphael Hythloday, is a little like a know-it-all-drunk (or worse, the ‘gap-yah’ traveller with stories) who insists on giving advice based on their greater knowledge. Towards the end of the section, Raphael gets to the nation of Utopia, a near-perfect society deep in middle America somewhere.
The second part of the book is a dissection of the culture of Utopia itself. Utopia is an island where the most notable fact about the place is that people in Utopia do not have private property. (It felt interesting reading this a few weeks after an island in the Americas, Cuba, have recently legalised private property.) Raphael defines this as the most important element of Utopia’s community. Without private property, and with a (mysteriously plentiful) public property, people can live a life dedicated to their community and their own souls.
One of the ways the Utopians show their disdain riches is to use gems and pearls merely as children’s toys, what’s more they use gold and silver for rubbish bins, chamberpots and chains for slaves and prisoners (often the same thing). I enjoyed the story of the Ambassadors who came in their finery and were utterly mocked by the Utopians for it.
What’s strange is that this Utopia sounds like a horrible place. Not only is slavery normal there (something which wasn’t normal in Europe at this time) but people can be condemned to slavery for daring to travel out of their parish. Although the people of Utopia only work for six hours a day and have loads of free time, the people of Utopia seems so coldly rational and communal that there wouldn’t be enough personality to enjoy that free time. In that sense it reminds me of the similar perfect society of Plato’s ‘Republic’.
The most fascinating part about the book is More himself. He includes himself in this book, using a real-world business trip to ground the tale in reality but also detach himself (doubly) from the views of Utopia. It’s a strange, constantly shifting relationship between More and the ideas he is presenting. Utopia translates as ‘no-place’, the information of this no-place is presented by Raphael Hylothday, which translates to ‘joy-through-nonsense’ - it would seem that these are purposely stupid ideas. That said, there was a clear humanist tradition of making serious points through playfulness and humour. It’s probably true that some of the points are accurate, some are jokes yet all of them are thoughts for the joy of exploring thoughts. It’s this quality for the pleasure of ideas for their own sake that makes it a joyful book.
Utopia is split into two parts. The first details how Thomas More met a learned traveller with revolutionary views on how to run a state based on his experience in distant lands. The traveller, Raphael Hythloday, is a little like a know-it-all-drunk (or worse, the ‘gap-yah’ traveller with stories) who insists on giving advice based on their greater knowledge. Towards the end of the section, Raphael gets to the nation of Utopia, a near-perfect society deep in middle America somewhere.
The second part of the book is a dissection of the culture of Utopia itself. Utopia is an island where the most notable fact about the place is that people in Utopia do not have private property. (It felt interesting reading this a few weeks after an island in the Americas, Cuba, have recently legalised private property.) Raphael defines this as the most important element of Utopia’s community. Without private property, and with a (mysteriously plentiful) public property, people can live a life dedicated to their community and their own souls.
One of the ways the Utopians show their disdain riches is to use gems and pearls merely as children’s toys, what’s more they use gold and silver for rubbish bins, chamberpots and chains for slaves and prisoners (often the same thing). I enjoyed the story of the Ambassadors who came in their finery and were utterly mocked by the Utopians for it.
What’s strange is that this Utopia sounds like a horrible place. Not only is slavery normal there (something which wasn’t normal in Europe at this time) but people can be condemned to slavery for daring to travel out of their parish. Although the people of Utopia only work for six hours a day and have loads of free time, the people of Utopia seems so coldly rational and communal that there wouldn’t be enough personality to enjoy that free time. In that sense it reminds me of the similar perfect society of Plato’s ‘Republic’.
The most fascinating part about the book is More himself. He includes himself in this book, using a real-world business trip to ground the tale in reality but also detach himself (doubly) from the views of Utopia. It’s a strange, constantly shifting relationship between More and the ideas he is presenting. Utopia translates as ‘no-place’, the information of this no-place is presented by Raphael Hylothday, which translates to ‘joy-through-nonsense’ - it would seem that these are purposely stupid ideas. That said, there was a clear humanist tradition of making serious points through playfulness and humour. It’s probably true that some of the points are accurate, some are jokes yet all of them are thoughts for the joy of exploring thoughts. It’s this quality for the pleasure of ideas for their own sake that makes it a joyful book.