Chapters Summary Of Utopia By Thomas More
Utopia is divided into two parts. The Book One of Utopia surrounds Thomas More, Peter Giles, and Raphael Hythloday. The three of them gathered around and discuss political and civil surrounding issues. While visiting Flanders as an ambassador of Henry VIII.
More after a mass at the Church of St. Mary, More found one of his friend, Peter Giles, speaking with a tanned bearded man who he thought of as a ‘seaman’. Giles then introduces More to Raphael Hythloday, rather than being in a ship it turns out that Hythloday is a world traveller and a philosopher. After their introductions with each other. They continued their discussion in More’s place. As Raphael unravels his past explorations, Giles and More was so impressed with the keen insight during his description of his past explorations that they argued that he would be an excellent advisor to the King. However, Raphael refused saying that he currently loves his freedom of travelling and would need to forfeit it if he enters the politics. More was eager to hear about Raphael’s impression of England. Raphael then recounted a discussion with the Cardinal Archbishop. Raphael argued that the hanging of the thieves is too harsh for such a small crime. Raphael also argued that the punishment does not dissuade thieves from stealing as they are poor and no way to make living. This type of punishment does not stop a theft of killing as there is no additional penalty. Instead Raphael insisted that the theft is to perform hard labor to the owner of the stolen property. If these thieves are to commit any more crimes, then they are to receive more punishment or death. These system is described by Raphael as ‘eliminating crime, and not criminals’.
The Book Two has two parts. The first half describes the mapping of Utopia, addresses the cities, the system of government, and the labor and responsibility of each individual. As you read through the chapter, Hythloday only provided good criticism and failed to offer one throughout. Raphael explains that Utopia is founded by an ancient conqueror named Utopus. Many mocked Utopus ambitions as it was doomed to fail however he proved them otherwise. Utopia’s island is roughly circular in shape and its straits are dangerous with its shallows and rocks. The island has fifty-four cities in which they all share the same language, tradition, institutions and laws. All of the cities have all the same layout and every year, in the capital city of Utopia, Amaurot, each city sends three representatives to discuss their city common problems.
Utopia has many rural farming land. Each citizen serves a two-year labor in the country and then returning home. This results in a country in which hard labor is distributed across the population resulting in everyone learning the necessary agricultural skills. Utopia is rewarded then with an number of goods and the country villages and cities freely give to each other without asking anything for an exchange. The houses and streets carefully planned out and its aesthetics, dimensions, and the model is duplicated and consistently the same across the island. Each Utopians have gardens and there no locks on the front doors. As a result, there is no private property anywhere and Utopians swaps houses every ten years. One person is elected as a ruler of the people unless he is suspected of being a tyrant and private discussions are considered as a capital crime and not tolerated. Utopians rather believing in working hard, they believe in working smart. They work only six hours a day, sleeping for eight hours, and devoting the remainder to food and labor. Utopians select their ambassadors, priests, and the ruler himself from the order of scholars. Scholars are picked based upon their intelligence at a young age. Moral education is practiced in early ages in Utopia. In common dining halls young people are seated with the elders to prevent youth from misbehaving. Utopians seek to avoid one’s own desire to pleasure himself/herself but rather look upon improving its society or economy as a whole.
In second half of the Book Two, it is mentioned that Utopians have slaves, including the people in war in which they captured. Utopian also travel to other countries to buy and enslave criminals just to have them sentence to death. Utopians who commit serious crimes are also punished as slaves and they are treated harshly. They see these slaves as a disgrace to their country as they have given them the most amount of what they can offer but instead they became criminals nonetheless. Utopians are skilled in medicine and encourages euthanasia when a patient is terminally ill and suffering pain however only the patient’s approval is euthanasia available to be given. Women are not able to marry until 18 and men are not able to marry until they are age 22 and premarital sex is illegal and punished. Adultery is also not tolerated and as well punished and if the adulterer repeats the behaviour, the punishment is death. Senates have no laws but instead punishments are determined on a case-by-case basis. Crimes are often punished with labor instead of death as the society can benefit from their work as well as if these slaves show that they regret the sin more than the punishment they are sometimes released. Utopians consider cosmetics as disgraceful as well as they put statues for men who have done good things for the society. There are no lawyers in Utopia but rather each citizen is able to tell his story. Utopians believe that this is the easiest way to determine truth in a case. Utopians are peaceful in a sense that they are content in what they have and not conquer others to take what they have. However, Utopians will fight to their interest as well as their people. Utopians rather going into war, offer large rewards to the deaths of the enemy rulers. Often they hire these mercenaries called, Zapoletes to fight for them instead of the Utopian citizens.
Lastly vast majority of Utopians believe in one god as a creator while small believe in one supreme being called Mythra. Utopia do not have any problems with Christians however at one point, a Christian minister was arrested due to its speech that excited riots among people. The minister was arrested and sentenced to exile due to his actions. Utopus then established a policy that says no one should be persecuted of one’s religion. The Prince is divided into more chapters than Utopia. The First Chapter briefly explains the classification of states. In short, there is either Princedom or Republics. Princedoms which are either hereditary are derived through ancestors or they are new. The new states are either brand new or connected to an established hereditary state. Conquered territories are accustomed to either living free or living under prince rule. Second chapter focuses on hereditary princedoms. Princedoms are easier to rule than new States, as they are maintained with less difficulty and its traditions provides a basis for stable government. In the third chapter, Machiavelli talked about conquest of territory. Machiavelli mentioned Roman empire who succeeded and King louis of France who failed. Machiavelli explained how Romans never wavered against battle. They did not avoid any wars and if they did have one, they would rather fight it sooner rather than later. Romans also indulged in attacking the poor and powerless rather than the rich and powerful because the poor are the ones who cannot fight back. King Louis in the other hand, rather than attacking the poor, King Louis instead increase the strength of major power in Italy (the church), and introduced a powerful foreigner, the Spain into the battle. King Louis never took up residence, set up colonies and deprived Venetians of their power. As if Venetians had retained their whole strength, no one would have taken the colony. In chapter four, Machiavelli describes the two kinds of kingdoms. One in which the prince is the only ruler and one in which power is split between the prince and the barons. Machiavelli describes the first kind of kingdom in which a ruler rules as difficult to conquer and easy to hold onto, while the other kind of kingdom is easy to conquer and difficult to hold onto.
Onto the following chapter, Machiavelli described how a Prince should follow the footsteps of the great and copy those who have been supreme. Machiavelli listed few known figures such as Moses, Cyrus or Romulus and said that these are models for prince to follow. These Princes may have had trouble gaining their power but by his own force it will be easier to maintain. In the next chapter, Machiavelli talked about Cesare Borgia, the son of Pope Alexander XI. Cesare Borgia had the rule of Romagna, however he had problems that he had to face. One is that he could not trust his army. The army composed of members of the Orsini clan (that were willing to betray him) and two is that he could not trust King Louis. Having these suspicions, Cesare asked for an aid and when the Orsini got a wind of the suspicions, Orsini rebelled as a result. Cesare then squashed the revolt with the aid of the French. After Cesare killed the rebels, Cesare needed to fix Romagna as it had been fallen with crime and disorder. And so, he appointed Remirro de Orco, a notoriously cruel and ruthless man. Quickly and mercilessly, Remirro pacified and unified Romagna. Then in order to stop the hatred from spawning, Cesare decided to try and execute Remirro. Saying that the cruelty had been from Remirro and not from him.
In Chapter Eight of the Prince, Machiavelli seems to explain between outright cruelty and clever ruthlessness described in past writing (Cesare Borgia). Machiavellie gave two examples in which one, Agathocles massacred all senators and richest citizens to become Prince. And two, Oliverotto da Fermo murdered his uncle and other citizens and forced to make him its prince. Onto the next chapter, Machiavelli talks about another kind of prince. A one who gains power not through any crimes or violence but rather a choice of his citizens. A prince can rise either by the will of people or prince. If nobles are having trouble controlling people, they will elect their own prince and the prince will act as their voice or puppet and therefore the nobles will get what they want. If the people are having troubles with the nobles, they will elect their own prince and he will then be their shield against the nobles. In the following chapters, Machiavelli describes how Princes should keep their kingdoms well-fortified. Prince as well should be careful not to earn their people’s hatred. A prince should be able to keep his subjects loyal to him during a battle. Unlike kingdoms, religion, in general, are easy to hold onto. Religion itself sustains people, and they are hard needed to be defended or governed.
Onto next chapters, Machiavelli insisted on working on arms rather than laws. Machiavelli described armies are either composed of mercenaries, auxiliaries, mixed or the state’s own. Machiavelli defines auxiliaries as foreign armies who help a prince upon request. Auxiliaries are ready-made while mercenaries are undisciplined, disunited and disloyal. Machiavelli concludes that a Prince should constantly study the art of war. Princes should imitate ‘the actions of great men’. Onto following chapters, Machiavelli argued that it is impossible for a prince to be perfect. Therefore, he should not worry about vices who will cost him his state but rather avoid them and if he cannot prevent them, he is allowed to indulged them. A prince does not need to have all the virtues but rather possess some virtues. Machiavelli describes a prince should give unpleasant jobs to others while he keeps the pleasant ones. The ones that looks good for himself. Machiavelli argues that if a prince needs to keep his state united and loyal, so be it. Machiavelli sees cruelty as the last serve for the greater good. Machiavelli also does not encourage factionalism in which diving and weakening your people. Machiavelli agrees that it is a good way to keep a prince power however as soon as a foreign enemy comes along, a factionalized state is easier to conquer. As well as a factionalized state has a chance of overthrowing the whole state as happened with Venice. Machiavelli also argued that men who are suspect to the prince are often more trustworthy than those who seem immediately loyal to him. A prince should encourage and reward peoples work and should not confiscate holdings. A prince should entertain people such as “festivals” and should show himself to the people while not diminishing his dignity. A good minister is crucial for a prince as in turn good ministers reflect on the prince himself. Good minister should only think what is good for his master but also the prince should be sure to keep the minister satisfied and obedient by honoring him and respecting his welfare. A prince should never take advice from anyone unless he is looking for one. However, prince should ask many questions, should seek other people’s opinions and should hear different views from others.
The last three chapters of the book talks about Italy. The restoration of Italy. The idealized vision of Machiavelli of Italy, a unified Italy that is, packed with its renewed strength and vigor, and as a single nation rising above others. Machiavelli sees the main problem is laziness. Rulers of Italy have never had stable armed forces and where princes run away in the first sign of trouble.
