King Henry VIII
At various points throughout Utopia, More and his interlocutors meditate on the nature of kingship and power. Hythloday even argues that he sees kingship as a selfless act of shepherding one's citizens rather than enjoying one's own station. All this talk of kingship is ironic, given that More's employer at the time was King Henry VIII, someone with enormous and often unchecked power. Eventually, Henry's break with the Catholic Church (and More's resignation) would end in More being tried and executed for treason.
Hierarchy in Utopia
Hythloday praises Utopia because it has eliminated rewards for prideful behavior and therefore, he argues, eliminated the notion of social hierarchy that Hythloday finds so deplorable. However, as Hythloday describes the rituals and social behavior of Utopians, it becomes clear that some social hierarchy does still exist among the citizens. This is one of the reasons that scholars find the text so inventive, as it frequently asks readers to question for themselves whether Utopia is indeed the perfect society.
Hythloday's Speech
Hythloday also praises the Utopians for their fair and balanced way of communicating. He claims that nobody monopolizes the conversation or delivers elaborate monologues that would preclude others from speaking. Ironically, however, Hythloday himself has monopolized the conversation among himself, More, and Giles.
Pride
Hythloday attributes virtually ever European problem – political, social, ethical, etc. – to the sin of pride, which he sees as the chief sin that opens one up to all other sins. He argues that Utopian society has eliminated rewards for prideful thinking or behavior, and as such has fostered a congenial and prosperous civilization that has no foreseeable end. These praises for a pride-less society are ironic, given that More notes how recalcitrant Hythloday seems toward counterarguments or criticism. The text suggests that Hythloday himself might have a problem with excessive pridefulness.
