Utopia Characters

Thomas More is simultaneously a historical personage, the author of Utopia, and a character in it—but the author’s resemblance to the character doesn’t mean the two are the same. In the work, More visits… read analysis of Thomas More

Raphael Hythloday is an old, sunburned, long-bearded, wise (and fictional) man from Portugal who meets Thomas More and Peter Giles in Antwerp. Hythloday traveled the world (in the book) alongside the great historical explorer Amerigo… read analysis of Raphael Hythloday

Like More himself, Peter Giles is both a historical personage and a character in Utopia. Historically, he was a pupil and friend of the great Dutch humanist Erasmus, and he was appointed Chief Secretary… read analysis of Peter Giles

Cardinal John Morton is an honorable, prudent, and virtuous old man when he appears in Utopia, as well as the Archbishop and Cardinal of Canterbury and the Lord Chancellor of England—just as he was… read analysis of Cardinal John Morton

One of the men whom Raphael Hythloday speaks with at Cardinal Morton’s table, the joker constantly tries to say witty things (as a traditional “fool” would), but he only succeeds once in a while… read analysis of A Joker

One of the men whom Raphael Hythloday speaks with at Cardinal Morton’s table, the friar becomes enraged when he becomes the butt of the joker’s mockery. He goes so far as to insinuate… read analysis of A Friar

Utopus is the (fictional) founder of the commonwealth of Utopia. He lived some 1,760 years before Raphael Hythloday delivers his discourse on the island nation. Utopus is best known for setting the groundwork of all… read analysis of Utopus