So I really enjoyed Book One of Utopia, honestly I think I'm just happy not to be reading Middle English. It is amazing how contemporary these issues discussed in book One sill are. I agree with much of what Hythloday and Raphael say to the cardinal. The way the veterans are treated in is the same way veterans today are treated. Its really telling. So far book one of Utopia is a little bit marxist, and I’m really into that. Everything I’m reading in class right now and talking about with my peers is how alienating labor under capitalism is and how depressed and empty we feel having to find a role in society. This book also seems to play upon those themes. I don’t agree with Raphael’s system of punishment either. Why not just create a world in which people don’t have to steal? I’m really sick of hearing that that's “idealistic” and “goes against human nature” because we are a product of our environments. “Human Nature” has nothing to do with it. I’m curious about what everyone else’s idea of Utopia is? One of my favorite books in the world is called Woman on the Edge of Time and it's about a Utopia in which there is no private property, humans value the environment, it's genderless (there is no gender binary), and most people are polyamorous.
Also in this book the family unit has been abolished and everyone has three moms. That is my idea of Utopia. It is a society based on love and respect for humans, animals, and the environment. That probably sounds extremist and scary to many of you but that's my actual idea of Utopia. I want to know what yours are so put them in the comments!
