Unfortunately, I did not get the chance to see the good ol' Ninja Turtle Raphael nor the gallant knight Thomas (confused?.. refer to the Note in Book 1's post). Instead I got stuck with this putrid description that stretched for miles of a delicious, crescent-shaped island called Utopia. Putrid as in 'nasty,' in the good way... like "Whoa! That was one nasty touchdown, kids!... just roll with me dawg. This island is freaking huge, and the imagery is just down right amazing. More had literally outdone himself when describing this island, because I wanted to stop reading... and jump right on into the setting myself! Then again, there were some problems with it. Let us go ahead and analyze this baby with a hefty, detailed passage and then follow up with a similar paragraph reacting to the former. Get excited now, because here we go!...
The Passage
During the well-developed passage that describes the scenic island of Utopia, with its fifty-four large and well built cities, More explains that it was Utopus that conquered it (formerly Abraxa) and brought the rude and uncivilized inhabitants into a good government and politeness. He also ordered a deep channel to be dug fifteen miles long in order to separate them from the continent. So the natives would not think they were his slaves, he had his soldiers help with the labor.
All the cities are relatively close to one another and once a year, each city sends three of its wisest Senators to Amaurot, the chief city, to consult their common concerns and the ways to go about them. No country family has fewer than forty men and women in it, besides two slaves. There's a master and a mistress set over every family; and over thirty families there is a magistrate; over ten magistrates there is another magistrate. The magistrates choose a Prince from a list of four fitting candidates; the Prince is in store for life. There is also a Supreme Council.
The people of Utopia are always to remain working unless sleeping. They are often out and about cultivating or running the trade. Although they do have free time, they cannot remain idle and must be doing something for the better of Utopia. Women are considered weaker of the two sexes, thus the ruder jobs are given to the males. Each family must be between ten and sixteen members. Each city cannot exceed six-thousand families, besides those of the country around it. The girls of the family marry out into the country, whereas the men stay with the family for all of there life. Wives serve their husbands, and children their parents, and always the younger serves the elder. Every ten years the families change houses; it's like musical chairs, but everyone gets a chair. There is no currency here, nor property rights, so you can take what is needed and walk into someone's home as if it were your own. Whenever an individual wants to break free and travel the country and have aquired the appropriate documents, they are free to roam. They take only a wagon and a slave, who drives the oxen and looks after them, yet they carry no provisions. If they wish to stay in another home, they must not be idle, thus working for the home and obeying by their rules.
They have a logical exporting of their surplus goods to the poor of other countries, except the view iron as a much greater commodity than gold and silver. They use gold and silver to make chamber-pots and close-stools, but also chains and fetters for their slaves, as a badge of infamy. Thus, anyone who wears these metals are discouraged.
As for religious views, they believe that the soul of man is immortal and that God of his goodness has designed that it should be happy and rewards for good virtuous actions, and punishments for vice, to be distributed after this life. Happiness is found in pleasure, and lesser pleasure might not stand in the way of a greater.
The Reaction
Alrighty... now that that's out of the way, we can get to being repulsed/delighted. Utopus conquering the island sounds alot like the foundation of America, and that can even tie into the whole slave thing. I do not like that they had slaves, but I'm kinda glad they got to work with gold and silver chains.. all pimped out and whatnot. These people were pretty advanced with all their thought processes. I mean, they held their records of the island's history and have a Senate, Supreme Council, and several cities that are under the jurisdiction of the chief city; like a capitol of a state. The problem here is that it gives a good ol' communistic feeling to the whole "Utopian society." It's just not 'free' enough because everyone has to be working; no one is ever idle, or else they became slaves. Most of my life is being spent idle, like right now. Their work is just monotonous, wearing crappy clothing all over the place, reporting to someone higher than them and laboring for the better of their society. It does not seem like anything bad can go on there, which would get really boring. Even if they aren't idle, they gotta be bored! I mean, the government controls how many families are in each city as well as how many children they can have. Now what's this about women being weak? I know plenty of girls that can kick some ass. If I were them, I'd get a passport and have my slave drive us and the wagon off that great cliff in the beginning and onto the sharp, pointy rocks. They have to be freaking insane to live in such a world that is perfect. "Utopia" my ass!
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Utopia: Book 1
Disclaimer: This marks the beginning of my horrible interpretation/analysis of utopia, therefore I apologize for what you are about to read... that is, if you choose to do so, for it is your choice. There is still enough time for you to get out...
4....3....2....1... Too Late!
Note: In order for me to actually get through the assigned passages, I made myself to believe that Sir Thomas More was a dashing knight on top of his stunning paladin with his lance in hand and Raphael was actually a Traveling Mutant Ninja Turtle. Together they fight dragons and rescue lovely damsels in distress and the conversation they have takes place during their quest. I suppose the Cardinal is just some red bird flying around annoying the two heroes. Anyways... on to what really matters!
1. It all begins, at least for me, on page 3. 'Twas a new scene to More, for Raphael described it as the air less burning, mild weather, fertile soil, the beasts were less wild, and the nations, towns and cities traded not only mutual commerce, but by land and sea in far off, remote areas. They went anywhere and everywhere that they were welcome.
- A world like this sounds alot like America, except now we seem to be gaining more enemies rather than friends.
2. Peter seems to be confused as to why Raphael has traveled to several different kingdoms, yet he does not enter in to king's service. Raphael states that he does not want to enslave himself to a king, for he has moved freely to nations in order to pay his friends what they deserved.
- Being free feels rather amazing but limiting yourself to serving only a government is not a life for me. The choice to serve it is endowed withing this freedom, therefore I'm somewhat wishy-washy with this theory.
3. Thieves receive the same punishments as murderers. Idle noblemen are just like tieves, for they dwell in the wealth of their lord. Once the lord has past, nobility goes down the drain and no one wants to associate with them.
- Thievery should require a less harsh of a judgement than death, for they could bring actual benefit to the world with the proper help (rehabilitation). This could also open up new jobs to the economy. Yay productive economy!
4. There is constant expansion of pastures while kicking the inhabitants further and further away, or else terminating them. The peoples are often tricked into losing their possessions and money, so they must result to thievery or begging.
- It's an ugly world out there and its rank breath keeps irritating me. Usually they are to be thrown in jail for thievery, yet no one will hire a miserable peasant.
5. Punishment for thieves among the Polylerits was for them to make restitution to the owner for the amount of their stolen goods Their possessions are left to their family while they remain free as they work as a community servant. If they are found idle, they are whipped or chained.
- This policy is great for building character. The thief has time to think about what they have done and receive labor experience, yet I would probably change the punishment for the idle. Being whipped does not seem too humane... or does it?
6. The friends and family of thieves may give them meat, drink, and clothes of the proper color, but if money is exchanged, death is to be dealt to both the giver and taker. The (so called) slaves cannot handle arms or money. If anyone helps to spot criminals, they are rewarded; for freemen: money; for slaves: liberty.
- This theory is great because the "slave" has nothing to steal. If they attempt to do something outrageous, they receive the death sentence, but they knew it was coming. Deal with the consequences foo'!
7. Judges are to be made sure that they may declare always in favor of the Prince, or whichever argument please the King. Those who oppose the local appraisal "A prince can never have too many treasures," will become an outcast within the society.
- This shows a corrupt court system, for there are no checks and balances. The King/Prince are believed to be above the law, which is outright wrong. (haha... right and wrong are next to each other)
After reacting to what I read, I realize how much my opinions are based upon the structures within the United States. Although it seems common sense too most, there are still different ways of achieving certain goals.
4....3....2....1... Too Late!
Note: In order for me to actually get through the assigned passages, I made myself to believe that Sir Thomas More was a dashing knight on top of his stunning paladin with his lance in hand and Raphael was actually a Traveling Mutant Ninja Turtle. Together they fight dragons and rescue lovely damsels in distress and the conversation they have takes place during their quest. I suppose the Cardinal is just some red bird flying around annoying the two heroes. Anyways... on to what really matters!
1. It all begins, at least for me, on page 3. 'Twas a new scene to More, for Raphael described it as the air less burning, mild weather, fertile soil, the beasts were less wild, and the nations, towns and cities traded not only mutual commerce, but by land and sea in far off, remote areas. They went anywhere and everywhere that they were welcome.
- A world like this sounds alot like America, except now we seem to be gaining more enemies rather than friends.
2. Peter seems to be confused as to why Raphael has traveled to several different kingdoms, yet he does not enter in to king's service. Raphael states that he does not want to enslave himself to a king, for he has moved freely to nations in order to pay his friends what they deserved.
- Being free feels rather amazing but limiting yourself to serving only a government is not a life for me. The choice to serve it is endowed withing this freedom, therefore I'm somewhat wishy-washy with this theory.
3. Thieves receive the same punishments as murderers. Idle noblemen are just like tieves, for they dwell in the wealth of their lord. Once the lord has past, nobility goes down the drain and no one wants to associate with them.
- Thievery should require a less harsh of a judgement than death, for they could bring actual benefit to the world with the proper help (rehabilitation). This could also open up new jobs to the economy. Yay productive economy!
4. There is constant expansion of pastures while kicking the inhabitants further and further away, or else terminating them. The peoples are often tricked into losing their possessions and money, so they must result to thievery or begging.
- It's an ugly world out there and its rank breath keeps irritating me. Usually they are to be thrown in jail for thievery, yet no one will hire a miserable peasant.
5. Punishment for thieves among the Polylerits was for them to make restitution to the owner for the amount of their stolen goods Their possessions are left to their family while they remain free as they work as a community servant. If they are found idle, they are whipped or chained.
- This policy is great for building character. The thief has time to think about what they have done and receive labor experience, yet I would probably change the punishment for the idle. Being whipped does not seem too humane... or does it?
6. The friends and family of thieves may give them meat, drink, and clothes of the proper color, but if money is exchanged, death is to be dealt to both the giver and taker. The (so called) slaves cannot handle arms or money. If anyone helps to spot criminals, they are rewarded; for freemen: money; for slaves: liberty.
- This theory is great because the "slave" has nothing to steal. If they attempt to do something outrageous, they receive the death sentence, but they knew it was coming. Deal with the consequences foo'!
7. Judges are to be made sure that they may declare always in favor of the Prince, or whichever argument please the King. Those who oppose the local appraisal "A prince can never have too many treasures," will become an outcast within the society.
- This shows a corrupt court system, for there are no checks and balances. The King/Prince are believed to be above the law, which is outright wrong. (haha... right and wrong are next to each other)
After reacting to what I read, I realize how much my opinions are based upon the structures within the United States. Although it seems common sense too most, there are still different ways of achieving certain goals.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Six Feet of Fun
How much gum have you ever put in your mouth? I know... it's a lot of flavor, but they make such great bubbles!
Anyways, just on Easter Sunday, my grandma gave each of us kids a thing of Bubble Tape... All the same flavor, like some sort of fruit or something...
Well... I like to dream big, and this is something that I have always wanted to do... I took the roll of Bubble Tape, named for it's six feet of fun, and unrolled the gum in its entirety into my mouth... It was freakin' huge and quite a mouthful of flavor... you may not want to know this, but if I ever stopped chewing, the gum would start to ooze out of my mouth and form a large, slobbery, yellow, gum-formed tongue...
It's rather hilarious... and I'm glad I did it... now I will never be tempted to do it ever again... unless someone tempts me to do it...
I have pictures...
Anyways, just on Easter Sunday, my grandma gave each of us kids a thing of Bubble Tape... All the same flavor, like some sort of fruit or something...
Well... I like to dream big, and this is something that I have always wanted to do... I took the roll of Bubble Tape, named for it's six feet of fun, and unrolled the gum in its entirety into my mouth... It was freakin' huge and quite a mouthful of flavor... you may not want to know this, but if I ever stopped chewing, the gum would start to ooze out of my mouth and form a large, slobbery, yellow, gum-formed tongue...
It's rather hilarious... and I'm glad I did it... now I will never be tempted to do it ever again... unless someone tempts me to do it...
I have pictures...
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