Research Paper on:
Women in the Literary Works of Edward A. Abbott and Thomas More

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
pictured societies, the authors are quite specific to the role of women; however, surprisingly, it is the sixteenth century book that offers women the most equality within a fictional societal  framework. The following discussion will examine both of these works more closely in regards to how women are pictured and referred to within these two works. This discussion will  demonstrate that More was the more overt about offering women freedom, and also whether or not Abbott was a confirmed misogynist or offering a clever and complete satire. The  premises of Mores book is that an experienced traveler, Raphael Hythloday, is relating to More the details of a near-perfect society that encountered on a small remote island called "Utopia."  This commentary to More covers all aspects of this society, including the role of women. Hythloday tells More that "Women are not debarred from the priesthood, but only a  widow of advanced years is ever chosen, and it doesnt happen often (More, 1992, p. 78). As his comment suggests, in many ways, Utopians obliterate gender concerns as a preferential  category in favor of one that favors experience and seniority. The Utopians feel that women should not be barred from political or religious power, but they are only encouraged  to take up arms; they are not compelled as are the men. They are also encouraged to strive professionally and intellectually and chose their own husbands. As this suggests, women  have the freedom to work and achieve a degree of social power, but they are also forced to yield up the exclusive power that they have traditionally held in the  domestic sphere. This dissolution of domestic power even extends to child-raising. More writes that each child is nursed by its own mother unless death or illness intervenes. When this