Something that has bothered me since we
began reading our utopian works has been the lack of talk or interest
in the social life of Utopia. So far it has been praise and work,
work and praise...what about personal relationships?
Maybe I find this so problematic
because our society puts so much emphasis on being social and having relationships...I'm not
sure, but it's a part that is lacking for me. I see that there is
religion, there is family, the is marriage, etc but what about
friendship or a good relationship with each other? Are our good
actions More talks about suppose to be what makes a a good relationship with someone?
St. Benedict made every thing very
intrapersonal, More had everything general about the society and
important relationships such as husband and wife, but even then there
were no feelings mentioned. Well, except, “in the choice of mate,
which may cause delight or disgust for the rest of their lives,
people are completely careless” because they are not seeing the
entire package. What about marrying someone for who they are, not
what they look like? (Before people start harping, I do
understand that these are different times and marriage practices are much different). Peoples feelings are not really taken
into consideration, except for fear or pleasure (which is connected to
happiness).
Feelings
are personal and identify with the individual which most of the works
tend to take away when describing utopia: the removal of
individuality. If there was one issue I found in all the works, I
find this to be the most irritating. I want to do me, for me. I want
to make me, my family, and my friends happy. I want to connect with
them, be more for them than a neighbor or “daughter”.
Again,
maybe it's because the works are looking more at society, but if they
ignore feelings and individuality then they are ignoring a part of
society that can lead to corruption. In utopia do people not have
these feelings? Do they not desire to be extremely close? I just do
not know and this I find frustrating because I want to know what
these authors think of the issue.
In
other utopian or dystopian novels I have read, the main characters
connected with their feelings and individuality and had to leave the
“utopian” societies. This may be the reason why I find this to be
such an important aspect for me.
Word
Count: 411
