Modern Europe experienced several tragedies in which citizens felt that there must be a better way to live where happiness was more familiar. Changes to what truly defines absolute happiness in a society in times of catastrophe have been expressed through utopian literature. The Utopia of Thomas More, The City of the Sun by Tomasso Campanella and The Marriage of Figaro by Caron De Beaumarchais together attempt to answer what truly creates a happy civilization during different periods of crisis in Europe. Each of these utopian literatures suggests a different origin from which happiness derives, clearly meaning that change in Europe would be beneficial. The revolutionary ideas for change in Europe proposed by Utopia, The City of the Sun and The Marriage of Figaro through their individual utopias, demonstrated their belief that such a change of social classes, the expression of moral pleasures and a more unified government would lead to a happier and less corrupt society. In the early 16th century, there was a myth that education and learning through the “true” Christian message would bring back the ancient Church and inspire solutions to social and political problems; the best example being Utopia by Thomas More. Utopia encouraged happiness by fundamentally living a morally correct life. According to Utopia, the removal of private property was of paramount importance to living ethically, because with common property there is no greed. Furthermore, the abolition of private property also meant that there would be no means of commerce that could also be applied to the elimination of greed. Hythloday expresses his distaste for private property by saying, "But as long as it continues, it will remain among the greatest and most important... middle of paper ... editing ability of contributing authors appropriately. showed the European public that with the root of happiness they suggest, change would be inevitable for a better and happier life. Revolutionary ideas about stepping stones to happiness: moral pleasure, unified government, and equal social classes showed that the people of Europe were not happy. They wanted to adapt their way of living and find the roots of happiness. Works Cited Beaumarchais, Caron De and John Wood. The Marriage of Figaro. The Barber of Seville and The Marriage of Figaro. London: Penguin, 1964. 106-217. Print.Campanella, Tommaso. The City of the Sun. The new Atlantis and the City of the Sun: two classic utopias. Mineola, New York: Dover Publications, 2003. 43-85. Print.More, Thomas, Ralph Robinson and David Harris Sacks. Utopia. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 1999. Print.