Who Is Raphael Hythloday So Perfect Utopia?

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In his work of fiction Utopia, the humanist Catholic Thomas More depicts an island that may seem perfect in contrast to his homeland England. He writes about far fetched topics such as divorce, freedom of religion, and women’s rights. Utopia is considered a satirical work of political philosophy in that it critiques England’s society and the royal, political, and religious leaders of the Renaissance time period. Thomas More creatively incorporates real characters in his story such as his friend Peter Giles and even himself. However, Thomas More develops the fictional character Raphael Hythloday by using his name and appearance, indirect characterization, and his dialogue to mask his criticism to England and to show that the seemingly perfect Utopia does not exist. The story includes real characters and real places but it is not until the made up character Raphael Hythloday is introduced …show more content…

In Thomas More’s first encounter with Hythloday, he describes him as “a certain stranger, a man well stricken in age, with a black sun-burned face, a long beard, and a cloak cast homely about his shoulders , whom, by his favour and apparel, forthwith I judged to be a mariner”(More 11). Hythloday’s outward appearance is that of any sailor in that time; old, ruddy, casually dressed, and bearded. Hythloday has a humble appearance but Giles assures More that there is more than meets the eye about Hythloday. Giles tells More that Hythloday is a Portuguese native, impressively fluent in both Greek and Latin, who had the chance to sail around the world with the famous and historic explorer Amerigo Vespucci before he came upon and lived on the island Utopia. More’s depiction of Hythloday’s outward appearance does not match with Giles’s depiction of Hythloday’s experience and wisdom. This could be another hint to readers that Hythloday and his words should not be taken at face

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