As and Elementary Education major, I tend to look into a lot of things from a child’s or educators perspective because that’s where my specific interests lie. Thomas More’s Utopia gave me an opportunity to do this, and I have to say, the society presented in Book 2 would not be one most children would want to grow up in.
On page 551 you learn that in Utopia each person is trained in a particular trade. Of course that is not all that striking, but what is seemingly harsh is how a young boy’s trade is established. “The son is trained to his father’s craft, for which most feel a natural inclination” (551). That doesn’t seem too bad, but those children who have a different interest are in a very particular situation. These boys would be put up for adoption to a family that practices the trade they wish to pursue. To have to leave your family as a child because you may have other interests completely disvalues the son’s attachment to his family in favor of a particular trade.
In Utopia, after the age of five, until the age in which you are married, eating arrangements are not all that favorable. “both boys and girls up to the age of marriage, either wait on table, or , if ot old and strong enough for that, stand by in absolute silence. They eat whatever is handed to them by those sitting at the table, and have no other set time for their meals” (556). Although it is understood that no one ever goes without, this way of eating is far from desired. Standing for any extended period of time in complete silence would be a challenge for many adults, expecting it of children seems almost unreasonable. Also being expected to eat whatever is handed to you take could put a person in a situation where they may not eat, if they are handed only food items in which they do not like. The text makes it seem the children have no say in the matter.
The perception of children in the society is shined on by negative light. Criminals are forced to wear gold and silver so the common people can scorn them. A similar treatment is given to the children. When what we would consider a precious stone is found, for instance a diamond, it is given to the children as a play thing because they “feel proud and pleased with such gaudy decorations. But after, when they grow a bit older and notice that only babies like such toys, they lay them aside” (558). The word gaudy has an apparent negative connotation, as well as the word babies in this particular occasion. In modern terms, when a child plays with a toy, it’s considered innocent. In Utopia the positive connation of children’s innocence is missing.
The entirety of these situations may be “perfection” for the adults, particularly the men of the society, but the children’s emotions are hardly considered.
