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SIR THOMAS MORE (1478 –1535)
His Life and Work
Thomas More was bom in London and studied at Oxford, after which, like his father and grandfather before him, he became a lawyer and later, a judge. Very soon he acquired the reputation of being strict, but just and incorruptible, a brilliant Latin scholar and the wittiest man of his time. He became a member of Parliament in 1504, and very soon brought upon himself the displeasure of Henry VII after persuading the members of Parliament not to vote to the king, the huge sum of money he demanded. After the crowning of Henry VIII he came into great favour and made a rapid career as a statesman, at the same time writing works of a political, philosophical and historical character, and also Latin verse. During a diplomatic mission to Flanders he began writing "Utopia", which was printed in Louvain (Belgium) in 1516 under the supervision of his close friend Erasmus. (The famous satire by Erasmus, "Praise to Folly", was dedicated to More.) In 1529 More was made Lord Chancellor of England (highest judge to the House of Lords).
By that time Henry Vin decided to divorce his first wife, the Spanish princess Katherine of Aragon, and marry Anne Bolevn, her lady-in-waiting. It was apparent that England and Spain were becoming serious rivals in oversea expansion, and the king's first marriage had lost its political sense. The Catholic religion forbids divorce, which only the Pope of Rome can grant, but he refused iti to Henry Vin.. After that the king decided to put an end to all relations with the Pope and proclaim himself head of the Church of England. Besides, such an action would give Henry V an admirable opportunity to increase his wealth by confiscating the estates of the Church, which, probably, was his main motive. More was a devout Catholic, and opposed this plan. Moreover, he understood that such measures, by strengthening the tyranny of the king, would make the life of the peasants much worse, would increase the number of paupers and vagabonds, and would enrich the courtiers and . financial speculators. In 1532, after Henry's second marriage. More refused to take the oath to the king, which would have meant his recognizing Henry VIII as head of the Church of England. From the official point of View this refusal was treason, and More was condemned to death. Efforts to reconcile him with Henry VIII failed, and he was beheaded; Mounting the scaffold on Tower Hill, he said to an officer: "I pray you. Master Lieutenant, see me safe up, and for my coming down I shall shift for myself" As he put his head on the block he moved his beard aside remarking that his beard had done the king no offence.
“UTOPIA”
The word "Utopia" is formed of Greek words meaning "no place", "nowhere". The work, written in Latin, is divided into two books.
Book I contains a conversation between More himself, the Flemish humanist Petrus Aegidius, and a veteran sailor Raphael Hythloday , formerly a travelling companion of the famous Amerigo Vespucci. The conversation deals with social and economic conditions in Europe and in England. Hythloday (this name, which is Greek for "a teller of lies". More gave him, obviously, to avoid being accused of excessive free-thinking) attacks all that was typical of contemporary English life: the parasitism of the, nobility, the uselessness of the clergy, the vices of the monarchy itself At that time common land was being enclosed; the peasants were being driven off their lands and brought to poverty; the fields were being turned into pastures for sheep. The increase in the production of wool was profitable to the merchants, because the famous English wool was the chief-article of export at that period. This gave More an opportunity to put the following words into Hythloday's mouth: "Your sheep, that were so meek and tame, and so small eaters, 68 now, as I hear it said, have "become .such great devourers and so.wild, that' they swallow the. very .men themselves. They consume, destroy, and devour whole fields, houses and cities."' And Hythloday combs to a most important'conclusion: a-society based on'private property cannot manage its affairs justly and successfully. Justice and welfare may be achieveiiTbnfy by complete 'abolition of .private property.
After that More (also, obviously, to safeguard himself from persecution) puts into his own mouth a speech in defence of private property. Hythloday retorts that More holds that opinion only because he cannot imagine any other way of life, whereas he, Hythloday, had visited an island.
Book II is dedicated to Hythloday's description of the island of Utopia, which he visited during one of his journeys. It is a state that has achieved absolute social .and economic harmony by replacing private property by common property. In this happy country all are contented "with simple- necessities,, and are employed in useful labour. Since the wants are few and everyone must labour, no one need work more than six hours a day, and the rest of the time may be devoted to education and recreation. Utopia knows no money; there is no need of it there.
Thomas More was the first writer in Europe to formulate communistic principles as a basis for society, and therefore he is considered ne of the greatest thinkers mankind has ever known.
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