Utopias
are by nature subversive. They are pictures of an ideal world
that naturally point out the failings in our own flawed
societies. Imagine yourself to be a royal censor in
sixteenth century England, a representative of the regime of King Henry
VIII. You have just been given a copy of this very controversial
text. What aspect of life in More’s Utopian society do you
think would be most objectionable and potentially subversive in the
eyes of a royal censor? Adapt the voice of the censor, and in a
1-2 page letter to More, highlight this aspect of his imaginary society
that you find so problematic. List the reasons why it would be
potentially subversive, and suggest a way how More could modify his
ideal world to make it acceptable to excitable King Henry VIII, who
might if he just gets angry enough decide to chop off his friend’s
head.