Utopia Written by Sir Thomas More

Labor in Utopia

Utopia written by Sir Thomas More is a book about little island, its political structure, local population and their customs. Word “Utopia” was first mentioned by T. More in this book as a name of this little island. Utopia translated from Greek means “no place”. However, nowadays the word “utopia” is used as a common noun to determine perfect society.  

“Utopia” by Sir Thomas More consists of two books. The first book is about the traveler Raphael Hythloday, who has visited plenty of countries. He described his trip with Amerigo Vespucci, countries, which he saw, and laws of these countries. All Raphael’s stories are about real countries and real customs, and only Utopia, which is mentioned few times during the first book, is imaginable. The whole first book is full of the real facts. For example, in a very beginning of the story there is a description of conversation between several people, who actually lived in times of Thomas More (Peter Gilles, Jerome de Busleyden, and the author himself).  Now then, reading about Utopia amidst veracious facts makes it for reader as real as America.

The second book of Utopia consists of number of chapters about utopians, their daily lives, national traditions and etc.  Usual doings of Utopia citizens are very different from both modern people’s daily routine and  century trades. These differences in customs and lives may confuse and surprise a person, who is not used to living on this island, but for locals it is obvious that these traditions are necessary. For instance, their marriage customs. Before the wedding fiancé and bride have to see each other naked. This seems ridiculous; nonetheless utopians think that under the clothes there could be ugliness, which may repel person from his or her spouse. And since divorces are forbidden in state and it is impossible to break up with spouse after the marriage, it is wiser to see every part of future wife or husband before marriage.[pic 1]

Such distinction between Utopia and other world can be seen in almost every part of living, including labor. Labor system in Utopia is built in such a way that every worker contributes not only to his or her own wealth but to the well-being of the whole nation of the island.  This is achieved by several regulations. One of it is absence of any form of money. Every citizen, who can work, makes his or her trade without salary. Consequently, all goods and services are free for locals. Products are distributed among people equally, and everyone has the same standard of living. Therefore, when one works hard, every habitant of Utopia obtains benefit.

Someone may think that if there is no reward for work as wage, then people will not endeavor to work. However, utopians do their job really diligently. This is reached with help of special magistrates, called Syphogrants. The main responsibility of Syphogrant is to ensure that no person is shirking or lounging. It becomes clear that people either work of their own accord or enforced to work by magistrates. But it is still inexplicit why Syphogrants comply with their obligations. At first, it may seem that it is because magistrates are exempted from labor. Even so, Syphogrants, wishing to inspire others, work as hard and diligent as others. Thus, the only obvious thing, which may encourage them to do all tasks, is their own desire. It turns out that productivity of workpeople depends on how well Syphogrants motivate them, and quality of work of Syphogrant depends only on his or her own will. Efficiency of the whole state holds on want of several people, while human wants are very unreliable. Labor system of Utopia is not as stable as it looks at first.

Another regulation in labor sphere is working hours. Each utopian has to work six hours out of twenty four. They consider this time is enough or sometimes even too much to produce necessary goods. When there are plenty of products and no work need to be done, government reduces working hours. So the number of working hours is dictated by state, no person in Utopia can decide how much to work. People do not refuse to work because workers in other states work considerably more. Comparing with others, utopians worked only few hours. But if the whole world was like Utopia, and every single person worked six hours per day, people would likely refuse to work on governments command.

The most common craft among utopians is agriculture. They are taught to it from early years. Agriculture is so widely spread there, as it is one of the most useful trades.  Involving people mostly in production of provision is the most logical allocation of workforce, because food is the most necessary good. Except agriculture every person occupy himself or herself with particular craft. Usually son chooses the same craft as his farther, but he can easily change it, unless there is a great need of any special trade. That is because there is no certain trade valued more than others. Thus, utopians are partially free to choose their occupation field, while many other things are dictated by state.