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By Root 302 0

of that limit are required to join another family. Each family is trained in a specific trade or vocation, with the children expected to carry on the specialty from generation to generation. Individuals are allowed to pursue other interests, but they must join another family that specializes in the desired vocation—that is, if you want to change vocations, you must also change families. “But if a man’s mind stand to any other, he is by adoption put into a family of that occupation which he doth most fantasy, whom not only his father but also the magistrates do diligently look to, that he be put to a discreet and an honest householder” (70, 71).

Recall that each year, every thirty families choose the Phylarch. Every ten Phylarchs elect a chief Phylarch known as a Tranibore. There are two hundred Phylarchs in each city. They elect the Prince. The Prince rules for life but cannot pass on his post to his offspring. The Phylarchs elect a new prince upon the death of the old one. The Tranibores serve as an advisory and governing council with the Prince. They meet every third day. Their meetings are conducted in secret and members are prohibited from discussing council business in public under penalty of death—with one exception: the most serious issues are taken by the Tranibores to the Phylarchs, who in turn bring the matter to their respective families. The families’ decisions are then brought back to the council of Tranibores for final action. An island-wide council composed of three of the wisest men from each of the cities assembles annually in the capital city of Amaurote. By law, on Utopia the governing council must debate three days on every issue brought before it. Moreover, no dispute or issue may be voted on by the council the same day in which it is raised for debate (63, 68, 69). Consequently, in Utopia, More creates the outline of a representative governmental structure. However, it is largely irrelevant, given the established dictates affecting minute details of daily life.

Citizens may not travel either within or beyond their city’s limits without a passport issued by the Prince. If a person is caught traveling without a passport, they can be punished severely (82). Each house in Utopia’s fifty-four cities is identical to every other house and no one owns the home or farm on which they live. There is, in fact, no such thing as private property of any kind on Utopia (67).

Utopia’s economic egalitarianism requires everyone to turn over everything they produce to central storehouses, from where they, in turn, get whatever they require to live. “Thither the works of every family be brought into houses, and every kind of thing is laid up several in barns or storehouses. From hence the father of every family or every householder fetcheth whatsoever he and his have need of then carrieth it away with him without money, without exchange, without gage, pawn, or pledge. For why should any thing be called unto him, seeing there is abundance of all things and that it is not to be feared lest any man will ask more than he needeth? For why should it be thought that that man would ask more than enough, which is sure never to lack?” (78) There are no poor people. “This fashion and trade of life being used among the people, it cannot be chosen but they must of necessity have store and plenty of all things. And seeing they be all thereof partners equally, therefore, can no man there be poor or needy” (84). Indeed, in Utopia, money is considered the source of much evil. For that reason no one is paid for their labor in currency, which is banned from the island. Gold, silver, and other precious metals have no value. Instead, they are used in chamber pots and other items used for the less than savory personal tasks in daily life (86). “[A]ll the desire of money with the use thereof is utterly secluded and banished, how great a heap of cares is cut away! How great an occasion of wickedness and mischief is plucked up by the roots! For who knoweth not that fraud, theft, ravin, brawling, quarreling, babbling, strife, chiding, contention,