Utopia Book 2 Response Questions

1) Who are the slaves in Utopia?

One might assume in a place as perfect as Utopia, one has not the need or moral mind for slavery. On the contrary, slavery seems to be used fluently but differently than the cruel connotation we assume with it today. Firstly, slaves are never bought in Utopia, they are placed into their position (much like a social order) for very good reasons. The slaves in Utopia come from three different scenarios: they were prisoners of war; they committed horrible crimes within Utopia; or they sentenced to death in another country but saved into slavery by Utopians. Also, in distinction of most slave cultures where slavery is hereditary, in Utopia, it is not.

2) What do you think of the Utopian marriage customs? Did you find anything particularly unexpected or unusual?

Women cannot marry until they turn 18 and men cannot marry until 22. Premarital relations are strictly forbidden and if broken, the individuals are banned from marriage for life. Also the punishment for infidelity is slavery. These rules are to keep marriage a desirous thing rather and the society to continue to have marriages. An odd custom they do is the bride and groom are revealed to each other naked in the presence of a third party as to not be surprised on the day of their wedding. 

3) What sorts of penalties are there in Utopia? Does this seem to be a lenient society, or a harsh one? What case can be made for the Utopian system? Do you agree with it?

Punishments are quite personalised in Utopia. The legal system in Utopia is lenient or harsh depending on what the crime's cause was. It doesn't function like an equation like it works today: stealing plus a certain amount of money equals prison. When a crime is committed, no matter what it was, it goes through a court who determines a punishment based on a single factor: How does this crime affect society? 

4) How might More respond to Hythloday's statement that there are no lawyers in Utopia? Why?

Hythloday claims that Utopia has no need for lawyers because the laws are so simple, people can defend themselves as long as they're innocent. More, who studied law himself, might realise the only real reason lawyers exist is to manoeuvre a labyrinth of loopholes that exist in English law. 

5) How do the Utopians treat other countries? What is the tone of the paragraph on  European treaties beginning on the bottom of p. 64? Why don't the Utopians think treaties are a good idea?

Utopians, much like the Swiss, avoid conflict at all costs. They do not sign any treaties of any sort because they believe that treaties can be manipulated and broken. Instead, Utopians rely on the the word of diplomats.

6) What do you think of the Utopian methods of warfare? Why might they be superior to those of most other nations? When do the Utopians actually fight themselves instead of hiring mercenaries?

Utopia, again, avoids War at all costs. Though they hold this ideology, they work on developing and training a powerful army for mostly protection. When war is declared, they utilise mercenaries (Zapoletes), and only fight for themselves as a last case scenario. Also, they believe strength in an army to be animal-like, so they utilise strategy over strength. They will infiltrate the country with propaganda offering rewards to join the Utopians or assassinating enemy leaders.