LITR 5439 Literary & Historical Utopias
Midterm Submission 2009
Bridget Yvette Brantley
Midterm
The term "utopia" has many defintions. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Literarry Terms defines a utopia as an imagined form of ideal or superior human society, or a written work of fiction or philosophical speculation describing such a society. Utopias are described as fantasies, morally inspired designs for social life ( Envisioning Real Utopias). Before I entered this course, I kinew very little about utopian societies. Utopian societies appear to be perfect, but they still have problems.
When I think about the the ultimate utopia, Heaven comes to my mind. In Revelation 2:7, Heaven is described as a physical garden paradise of God. In Revelation 7:16, it is a place with no hunger or thirst. There is also no death or pain. As a city, Heaven is described as a large, beautiful city. This city includes walls and gates. It is made of the finest, most valuable materilals such as gold and pearls. In my opinion, there is no such thing as a perfect society. The literal meaning of utopia is a "non-existing place."
In Sir Thomas More's Utopia, he depicts a rationally organized society through the narration of an explorer who discovers it. This discoverer is Raphael Hythloday. Utopia is based on Plato's Republic. It is a perfect version of The Republic. In Utopia, Hythlodaydescribes a utopia as perfect for nurturing an ideal society, The people on the island of Utopia are described as happily governed by and well peopled. There is also mutual commerce (3).
Cooperation is a characteristic and attraction of a utopian community. In Herland, community and cooperation triumph ane everthing is done for the greater good of all. In Herland, the three male travelers find it strange that they are treated as human beings and not looked at as male figures. One existing problem in society today is the notion that males are the dominant beings in society. When Charlotte Perkins Gillman wrote Herland, she sought to expose or bring to society's attention the injustice of woen in our male-dominated society. According to Gillman, "a healthy social organism for both men and women, therefore, requires the autonomy of women."
Today, we live in a society where education is a priority and another attraction. In Herland and Anthem, learning was importtant to members of each society. There is a difference though. People in today's world get an education so they can have a better job and ultimately make more money. Money and status are important to people today. In Herland, money did not exists. People received an education to better themselves. Imagine what our world would be like if money was not a big deal. Money sometimes drives competition. In schools, children are grouped in classes according to their intelligence. In Herland, there was no competition. Motherhood was critical and educating children was extremely important. Children learned and grew together in Herland. In Herland, they were sisters, and as they grew, they grew together- not by competition, but by united action (6). Perhaps we could learn something if we could stop being so competitive in our society and learn to work together.
Another attraction of a utopian community is ithe nature of the language used to describe the society. The commnity usually consist of an environmentally friendly design with practices. Something such as an eco-village would be good for a community. For example, there would be organic gardens and earth-friendly buildings. The landscape around the community is usally described as a garden paradise. Also, the wildlife is tamed and friendly. For example, in Herland, cats are loved and treated with the highest respect. The women are devoted animal lovers in Herland. There is also the absence of social conditions such as poverty, racism, and sexism. Without the existence of these conditions, it is possible that other problems might decline such as those triggered by issues like these listed.
One of the greatest problems that might arise in Our present society produces severally anti-social, dangerous people, and we have not found an effective way of dealing with these people, who it produces in droves. (Design Your Own Utopia). While utopian cities are not the perfect solution, they could possibly offer alternative solutions, Conflict could possibly be solved through mediation. This is better than present problems we have with law enforcement officers, judges, courts, and prisons. Utopian societies appear to offer a system designed with orderly conduct instead of one filled with injustice and victimization of the innocent (Design Your Own Utopia).
One detraction of a utopian community is one that has gone dysfunctional. In Anthem, a collectivist society has lost the word "I." They all call each other "we." The characters in Anthem can't stand the society, but they fight back. Sometimes, some members of utopia will question, ideas that they may not understand or believe in. What usually happens is they retaliate in same way and those in charge will oppress these individuals. In Anthem, the state was in charge. The people had been conditioned to believe that mankind didn't. In fact, it was a sin to believe anything different, One character, Equality 7-2521 begins to outgrow his community. The only way the Councils, who are the voices of justice, can handle this individual is to beat and threaten him. Ulttimatley, he runs away. While utopia's appear to be perfect, there are still some problems with them.
In Objective 3f, Charlotte Perkins Gillman creates a novel based on a society called Herland, which is governed by femalesd. Gilan alloiws us to see a community dominated by highly civilized women who are athletically fit and intelligent. This community has no need for men.The men can not understand this idea because they see everything from a male-consciousness and through male eyes. Herland goes against the social norm of society today. Gilman sought to destroy the molds into which people, especially, but not only females were forced. She believed that women could be the moving force in the reorganization of society, As a humanistm, Perkins believed women must share in the totality of humanities common life. Gilman reacts against the social norms when she writes Herland.
In Objective 3g, I believe utopias can change, evolve, and adapt to the changes of history? As long as people are willing to make the changes, these changes can happen. Here are some examples. Physically cities would be very different from today. For example, cities could be made much more pedestrian friendly. Medical care would be a universal right and would be geared toward presentaive medicine, through creating a mentally and physically healthy society. Also, a non-violent, free egalitarian world would be the end result of moving from a corporate/government-controlled society. The meat industry would cease to exist. A local organic agricultural approach would be taken (Design Your Own Utopia).
"Design Your Own Utopia." www.seesharpress.com/utopia.html <mhtml:{B109A116-1F85-4DDC-875A-9DCFE4F26069}mid://00000000/!x-usc:http://www.seesharpress.com/utopia.html>
"Envisioning Real Utopias."
www.ssc.wisc.edu/~wright/Publishedwriting/ERU-PREFACE <mhtml:{B109A116-1F85-4DDC-875A-9DCFE4F26069}mid://00000000/!x-usc:http://www.ssc.wisc.edu/~wright/Publishedwriting/ERU-PREFACE>