LITR 5439 Literary & Historical Utopias
Midterm Submission 2009
Mary K. Boudreaux
June 26, 2009
Unlocking the Mystery of Utopia
Prior to entering this course, the word “utopia” meant a place where everything gleamed of perfection. It is like a perception of Heaven on earth with gold plated streets and harps playing a rendition of Mozart. It is the place similar to paradise where animals and men live free and happily together with no strife. As a follower of Christ, utopia has a plethora of euphoric symbols and concepts such as peace, happiness, endless love for mankind, harmony and freedom of pain of any sort. Per my research and discovery of the genre of Utopia, these concepts have changed. There is no absolute utopian society or community that is, without problems. Each utopian society exists for a different purpose and follows certain beliefs and creeds. The perception of utopia no longer permeates around an ideal or concept that is consumed with heavens, clouds or angels. Rather, each utopia is autonomous in its own set beliefs and approaches to a perfect life. The commonality amongst utopian communities is that each strives for perfection in all forms of life, including gender, work, government, etc. as seen in Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s Herland.
My newest revelation is that the concept of utopia is based upon a philosophy that involves religion, sociology, economy, evolution, education, history and often millennial or apocalyptic events that change or often challenge the thinking processes of the individuals involved or prospects. Sir Thomas More’s Utopia is a prime example of Socratic questioning as a means to stimulate change in a society through dialogue. In Edward Bellamy’s Looking Backward, the main character Julian West embarks upon a millennial event of time travel that is evolutionary. It changes his view of the role of the poor and the elitist in society. It is also important to note that what one deems as utopian; another sees as dystopic. In Ayn Rand’s Anthem Prometheus reaches a state of enlightenment and becomes a hero and a revolutionist. Prometheus’ declaration of independence is heroic. Not only does he free himself; he frees his mind. What one eventually learns in the study of utopia is that the perfect world does not exist. The ultimate conclusion is that comparatively, quasi-utopians exist in some facet or form, but in the 21st century, society is taught to honor and respect individualism, whereas utopias exist to achieve commonality by striving for one goal, perfection.
The working definition of Utopia means “good place”, which is pronounced as Eutopia in Greek or means “no place” in Latin. Sir Thomas More in his 1516 manuscript titled Utopia is considered the foundation and basis for all utopian novels. The basis for the novel evolved from More’s religious, social and political beliefs during the Protestant Reformation. More does not describe his perfect society in the novel, but rather sets a platform for discourse on the chaotic politics of England during the Renaissance period. During this time period a rediscovery of ancient civilizations’ foundation of governmental systems and philosophies were evaluated and examined as a basis to bring about change in society. The works of great philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle and Socrates were revered and discussed in open dialogue to challenge men’s thinking and eventually lead to self-discovery and scripted revolutions that would challenge the corruption of government and religious figures. More’s novel is amongst the greats of the Renaissance period such as Machiavelli and Montaigne. His novel was the catalyst for other great writers such as John Locke and Hobbes. In the same year, More’s friend, Erasmus writes a Latin essay titled, The Education of a Christian Prince in which he desire to reform the monarchic states of Europe.
The elements or features of utopia in literature vary from novel to novel. There is an exuberant amount of concepts that stem from the concept of utopia. Hence, frustration sets in with an attempt to conform utopia into a set form or type. A myriad of utopian characteristics can be employed in one novel, but may be absent in others. Yet, there are no absolutes in quantity of elements that are incorporated or found in the novel(s).
In Utopia by More, the main characters, Hytholoday and More socraticly discuss idealistic and philosophic proposals in relation to policy and laws in Europe. The novel is stresses the service of country and mankind. The dialogue is called “The Dialogue of Council” with the intent to guide Hytholoday into becoming part of the government to promote change in society. The intruder, More is seen as the lead of the Socratic dialogue in which his ulterior motive is to persuade Hytholoday to join the King’s services as a counselor. More wants Hytholoday to employ his knowledge and expertise to fight social injustice and inequality. He gives a compelling account of the country Utopia in which he discusses the self sufficient nature of the men and its economic system, women joining their husbands at war, free practice of religion, and the idea of freedom of religion. Sexual encounters before marriage are prohibited, as are polygamy and adultery.
More’s purpose is to expose the justice system as corrupt. He uses the dialogue between Hytholoday and himself to examine the nation’s system on communism/socialism vs. democracy, equality vs. inequality, and justice vs. injustice. Although throughout most of the novel, More and Hytholoday discuss the role of politics and economy, they also delve into the role of private ownership vs. shared ownership. Hytholoday states that no man owns anything, yet in the country of Utopia, he owns his share of everything. To the modern man this could seem paradoxical. To the reader it is frustrating and confusing, yet enlightening.
Gilman’s Herland is an isolated society comprised of only females. The three men, who are intruders, invade the land and attempt to impose their worldly views and socialization skills upon a highly educated and technologically advanced society of women. Vandyck Jennings, the narrator states that women are “inheritantly inferior beings”. He also states that women are incapable of creating a civilized nation. Yet, he and his other two counterparts experience an evolution of a newfound society where women have physical authority and mental superiority (Bird, 2007). Their newfound experiences stem from collective dining and cooperation amongst all for the greater good of the society. It is a place where communal living exists in every household. A socratic dialogue takes place between the three men and the women. The dialogue is controlled by the women. The roles are reversed; whereas, the man is in the subordinate position. However, the men are on a scientific expedition or a quest to conquer the “great find”, but they find themselves conquered and sequestered.
The men ask most of the questions in regards to economy, religion, and relationships. The outcome is that they learn that the women subscribe to certain religious beliefs, one Divine Being. They also encounter an economical system where agriculture and technology is advanced. They are mystified by the ability of women to utilize their minds to create such beauty in the gardens and advancement on perfectionism in all areas of their society. There is a governing system, run by the elders. This is a society with no crime, disease, or competition. Their history is written and continues to be scribed as they educate themselves about other societies and worlds. Most confusing to the men is the idea of nonprocreative sexual activity. It is Terry who uses brute force to attempt to sexual assault his girlfriend. Later, it takes the same brute force of the women to pry him off of her. His manhood has been diminished, so he thinks.
The men must choose to adapt or refute the information. In the end, the elders choose to progress the society by creating an experimental site, utilizing the three men; however, Terry refuses to adapt to the “man less” environment and return to modern day society where men are in authority. Herland addresses the following objective: 3f. What social structures, units, or identities does utopia expose or frustrate? What changes result in child-rearing, feeding, marriage, aging, sexuality, etc.? (Social units or structures: person/individual/self, gender, sex, family [nuclear or extended], community, village/town/city, class, ethnicity, farm, region, tribe, clan, union, nation, ecosystem, planet.) The novel of Herland portrays women as being enlightened by the process of motherhood; however, many of them also have masculine like traits that cause the men to question the role of femininity and refute this new knowledge. The women have short hair, maintain careers, and educated with the ability to express themselves intellectually. Eventually, the men are enlightened by the new concepts of women’s femininity and roles in society. However, the acquisition of this new knowledge is hard for all the three men to process and accept. In the end, two of men accept their place and roles in Herland, while Terry, who struggles with superiority issues, returns to the outside world. In essence, it is through the eyes of the men that the reader is able to see the flaws of the utopian world of Herland. In the end, the women realize that they must also progress, by experimenting with the male species.
In Bellamy’s Looking Backward and Rand’s Anthem, the roles of men and women are not equal. Bellamy portrays women as being part of the labor army in the 21st century; whereas, in the 18th century the women are subordinate to their husbands. They have no freedom of expression and must take the role of the housewife. In the 21st century, this changes. The women are of leisure, and worry less about household chores. However, as Dr. Leete and Julian encounter discussions of substance, the women inevitably leave the scene. Julian also makes many of the major decisions about the future of his fiancée by preparing the building of the home. In Anthem, Rand characterizes The Golden One as subordinate to society and to Prometheus, later in the novel. She must follow, along with Prometheus the laws of a communist society, where there is no equality or free thinking. In the end, Prometheus realizes that he must also become the tragic hero like the man who sacrificed his life for the greater good of mankind on the post. He also realizes that the scholars will never see him as equal and will refute him and his knowledge because of his place in society, a street sweeper. The frustrations lie in the fact that The Golden One never truly is completely free. She chooses what type of life she desires to live, which is the alternate to the socialist, communist life. She chooses Prometheus, and follows him into the enchanted forest. This is freedom to her, freedom of choice.
Utopias are not confined to one characteristic. Men and women existing under one guise and economical, governmental system is an ideal. There will always be inequality and injustice. The authors of the utopian novels realize that the purpose is to open the mind of the reader into a world of fantasia that is idealistic, but not realistic. It is to bring upon change, progression and hopefully one day, a quasi-utopian society whereas all men and women can exists happily, and maybe live forever after! The dystopian novels give the reader a look into both sides of the issues of utopia and dystopia. It is through both types of novels that man realizes that he is never really free. Freedom and perfection is a philosophical thought.