The Story of Utopias · Character

Raphael Hythloday

Well-traveled sailor-scholar whose account of an island commonwealth gives More's Utopia its voice and its unsettling edge.

supporting

Also known as Hythloday, Raphael

First appearance: the story of utopias

As a supporting figure in The Story of Utopias, Raphael Hythloday is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Mentioned as the scholar and sailor who described the mysterious island of Utopia to Sir Thomas More.

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Raphael Hythloday appears in The Story of Utopias as supporting figure.

Raphael Hythloday first appears in 0003 the story of utopias.

With Plato (professional): Hythloday's descriptions of Utopia are often compared to Plato's ideal state, establishing a direct philosophical dialogue across texts.

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Character Web

4 connections

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Relationship types

Professional
Other

Character groups

Diverse Utopian Thinkers
Protagonist

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

The emotional and psychological peak occurs when the traveller falls in love with a girl who bears a striking…

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Relationships

Plato
professional · positive
Hythloday's descriptions of Utopia are often compared to Plato's ideal state,… How this plays out →

Relationship notes

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See Raphael Hythloday in the story of utopias

In the story

Raphael Hythloday appears across 12 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

V
Mentioned as the scholar and sailor who described the mysterious island of Utopia to Sir Thomas More.
How something happened to utopia between Plato and Sir Thomas More; and how utopia was discovered again, along with the New World.
Hythloday is the fictional traveler in More's Utopia who describes the ideal island society.
II
Portuguese scholar, learned in Greek, who abandoned Aristotle and traveled with Americus Vesputius, discovering the commonwealth of Utopia.
III
The errant intellectual who condemns the greed of the rich, the oppression of the poor, and the corruption of princes, advocating for Utopian reforms.
IV
The fictional traveler who recounts the details of Utopia's layout and governance.
V
Narrator of Utopian customs, including the rotation of farm workers and the six-hour workday.
VI
The narrator who describes the Utopian distribution system, though he did not detail all regulations.
VII
Raphael is the source of the description of Amaurot and its customs.
VIII
The narrator who criticizes English government in the Introduction; his criticisms are compared to the flaws in Utopia.
IX
Implied narrator of the Utopian philosophy, as the traveler who reported these customs.
The Utopian Way of Life
Fictional narrator who describes Utopian values and way of life.
II
Referenced indirectly through the comparison of Icarian gardens to those in Utopia.

Chapter companion notes

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