Elements of the Authors World Present in Utopian Fiction...

In Samuel Butlers Erewhon, a traveler finds a land that is not totally unlike his own society, but he soon discovers that they have a very different culture from his. By using the failings of Erewhonian society, the author draws the readers attention to flaws of his own society. This device is used in other works studied this semester, by creating a world that is not completely different from the authors own in an effort to make society realize its faults. Thomas Mores Utopia is similar to Erewhon because it makes commentary on certain social issues of his time, disguised as a story about a different culture. George Orwells 1984 and Margaret Atwoods The Handmaids Tale were also written based on the societies in which the†¦show more content†¦From this it becomes apparent that knowledge should be useful, and the acquisition of such language should be carried out in an effective manner. In other words, performance and practice prevailing over pure theory (Bisenz 18). The y are also taught a hypothetical language which does not have any use in the real world, but is nevertheless taught to all students. This is a parody against the enforced study of Greek and Latin in England, and the Victorian cultural appropriation of ancient Greek to undergrid ideologies of class difference and colonial conquest (Whitmarsh 67). Butler calls attention to the religious hypocrisy shown by people of his own society in some Erewhonian practices. The narrator states in spite of all the to-day they make about their idols, and the temples they build, and the priests and priestesses whom they support, I could never think that their professed religion was more than skin deep (Butler 87). He is referring here to Erewhons state religion, which he conceives to be very superficial because of the displays made of it. On the other hand, Ydgrun is the goddess that most people actually believe in, but publicly, they often deny her and are ashamed of her. 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