To Serve or Not to Serve?

More’s character Raphael Hythloday has traveled the world, and as he begins to discuss life and politics with both Peter Giles and Thomas More, he easily gains their respect. Mr. Giles is astounded by Raphael's experience and wonders that with such wisdom Raphael has not offered his services to a prince, or any form of royalty..

“My dear Raphael,” he said, “I’m surprised that you don’t enter into some king’s service;…Thus you might advance your own interests and be useful at the same time to all your relatives and friends.”
“…I think they should be content with this gift of mine, and not expect that for their sake I should enslave myself to any king whatever.”
“Well said,” Peter replied; “but I do not mean that you should be in servitude to any king, only in his service.”
“The difference is only a matter of one syllable,” Raphael replied (527-528).

Is there a difference between service and servitude? According to the Oxford English dictionary, “service” is simply defined as being in service to a master. This slightly circular definition gives us more of a voluntary picture of someone offering what they have to someone else [1]. Servitude on the other hand is defined as “the condition of being a slave" [2]. Clearly in the semantics of things, there is a difference. Yet as Raphael points out, when it all comes down to the two words, there is little difference other than one syllable. This is particularly true in the case of a king. When in the service of a king, as Raphael points out, you may not be bound in shackles and whipped for disobedience, but your ideas and your opinions are bound. If you wish to stay in the good graces of the king you are a slave to what he wishes and freedom of speech turns into a one-way ticket to treason.


[1] Oxford definition of "service". From http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/entry/50220772?query_type=word&queryword=service&first=1&max_to_show=10&sort_type=alpha&search_id=aAJI-5aaYwK-5731&result_place=1
[2] Oxford definition of "servitude." From http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/entry/50220813?query_type=word&queryword=service&first=1&max_to_show=10&sort_type=alpha&search_id=aAJI-5aaYwK-5731&result_place=1