Marxism (Analysis 4): Thomas More—A Man with One Hat and an Interesting Political Idea

          Thomas More, a very religious and deviant Englishman, wrote and published his text Utopia in 1516. In More’s text, the narrator describes a paradise where society is both classless and “equal.” This text was taken as fiction, and yet, it has been said that this text influenced Karl Marx’s Communist Manifesto. In More’s novel, there is a basic physical labor value for the citizens of Utopia; no lower/middle/upper class struggles; religion was determinable through personal views—yet, religion was necessary.

            In Utopia, the narrator describes going on a long sea-voyage, upon which he landed on an island that was completely different than the country of his origin—which was England. On this island, the narrator noted that the citizens of this island all lived in similar housing types, and all wore the same demur clothing. He could not ascertain who was of upper-class and who was not. In Marxist terminology: the proletariat or the Bourgeoisie.  Each person who lived in Utopia had to produce and work for society. Most, in not all of the work, was physical—and there were only a handful of people at the upper echelons who “supervised.”  Citizens of Utopia could and were available to move around the city if there should be a need for their labor in another sector of the island.

            When it came to class, valuables such as, gold and diamonds, were used as tools and shackles for prisoners. This eliminated the availability for one to assert themselves as part of an upper-class. However, this addition of this section may have been a direct result of More’s dissatisfaction with the English royalty. It has been recorded that More wore a hair shirt every as a way of flagellation. The royalty of England had overwhelmed the hierarchical image. And, in that respect, Marx’s view of a classless society is greatly similar. Marx refuted the presence of a definable “upper” class, creating an irrefutable hierarchy. Instead, labor would determine one’s standing; however, everyone was important.

            Religion was the one major difference between More’s text and Marx’s manifesto. In Marx’s text, religion is a distraction, a cover for the “unhappiness” that is inevitable in people. More, a strict catholic, believed religion to be an important pillar in oneself. It was for standing up for his religious beliefs that lead to his death as an act of treason. In Marx’s text, there is an inherent distance put between society and religion. He states, “man creates religion, religion does not create man.” Throughout the better part of the history of the world, religion created the man. Religion controlled man and his productive labor, relgion was the basis for everything. And, I think that Marx puts a barrier between religion and society, because certain restraints are then lifted. Man is forced to create his own logic and increase his mental labor, as opposed to following the word of illusion. 

            Ultimately, Marx and More have many political views that are common. Both believed that class destructed the homogenization of society; however, they both differed on the value of religion.