Raphael Hythloday's Utopia

Book I of More’s Utopia describes Raphael Hythloday’s many adventures: the sore thumb was when he stayed with Reverend Peter Giles. This passage does not seem much important, but the way Raphael had described the man and how he spoke of the death sentence spoke volumes. This lawyer looks at the death sentence as though it is a glorious thing brought upon the people by god. Although people of England look towards death, tradesmen, or farmers as a punishment, Raphael enlightens the lawyer and Cardinal of the injustices and inconveniences of people from wars and old age. “In this respect you, along with a good part of the world, appear to imitate bad schoolmasters who prefer beating their pupils to teaching them” (30). Later on in the same passage, Raphael makes a good point on how the elders teach the young. They want to the children to grow up and be scholars, craftsmen and/or useful tradesmen. Teaching pupils in such violent ways will only result in unfair punishments for barely thought of crimes. This relates back to how the people of England have “as many as twenty” thieves hung as if they are
The wool from the sheep are highly priced and many of the men are not content with the annual profits made. Such things as not being satisfied with what they make puts thieves in the position brought upon themselves. “Thieves are no more reluctant to be soldiers than soldiers are reluctant to be thieves, so closely are the two callings related” (32). You cannot force upon people someone they wish not to be, but you cannot leave people the only viable option left for them to take. The plague of thieves, as the lawyer had said, come from outcomes such as war or the wealthy nobles taking land from the people who have provided them with the food and luxuries they are so easily