Rasselas - Samuel Johnson

Summary

Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia is a philosophical romance by Samuel Johnson. The story follows Rasselas, a young prince confined to the Happy Valley, a luxurious but secluded paradise from which there is no escape. Despite the abundant pleasures, Rasselas experiences profound melancholy and dissatisfaction, yearning for a life of purpose and real experience in the outside world. He eventually escapes with his wise mentor, Imlac, his intelligent sister, Nekayah, and her attendant, Pekuah.

Their journey takes them through Egypt, primarily Cairo, where they embark on a quest to find the "choice of life" that promises lasting happiness. They observe various segments of society: hermits, shepherds, the wealthy, the learned, the powerful, and the common people. Through these encounters and extensive discussions, they discover that no single profession, social status, or philosophical pursuit offers complete and enduring contentment. Everyone, regardless of their circumstances, appears to be afflicted by some form of suffering, anxiety, or disappointment. The prince and his companions ultimately conclude that perfect happiness is an elusive ideal in human life. They return to Abyssinia, each making a "choice of life" that reflects their adjusted understanding, accepting that true satisfaction is likely to remain just beyond their grasp.

Book Sections

Section 1: The Happy Valley and Rasselas's Discontent

The story begins in the Happy Valley, a secluded and magnificent paradise in Abyssinia, where the imperial family's younger children are confined to prevent them from seizing power. The valley offers every conceivable pleasure: beautiful gardens, fine music, abundant food, and a life free from toil or want. Despite this idyllic setting, Prince Rasselas, reaching young adulthood, finds himself deeply unhappy. He feels an inexplicable melancholy, a sense of purposelessness, and a profound ennui that none of the valley's diversions can alleviate. He observes the superficiality of the other inhabitants' joys and questions the meaning of his existence, longing for knowledge and experience beyond his gilded cage.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
Rasselas	Prince of Abyssinia, young, thoughtful, introspective, melancholic, intelligent, questioning.	To escape the ennui and artificiality of the Happy Valley; to find true happiness, purpose, and understanding of life; to experience the real world.
Imlac	Poet and philosopher, older, well-traveled, wise, experienced, somewhat jaded by his own search for happiness.	To share his extensive knowledge and wisdom; to guide Rasselas in his quest for understanding and contentment; to perhaps find renewed purpose himself.
Nekayah	Rasselas's sister, intelligent, perceptive, kind, practical, philosophical, initially more cautious than her brother.	To support her brother in his intellectual and emotional journey; to escape the Happy Valley; to understand human life and happiness; to find companionship and meaning.
Pekuah	Nekayah's attendant, beautiful, gentle, somewhat naive, prone to sentimentality and fear.	To serve Nekayah faithfully; to experience the world alongside her mistress; to find love, security, and a comfortable "choice of life."

Section 2: The Introduction of Imlac

Rasselas, unable to articulate his discontent to others in the valley, eventually encounters Imlac. Imlac is an older, learned man who, like Rasselas, was once a prince confined to the valley. He had escaped years ago to travel the world in pursuit of knowledge and happiness, only to return to the valley later in life, having seen the vanity of human wishes. Imlac shares his vast experiences: his travels through various countries, his studies in different sciences and arts, his attempts to become a great poet, and his eventual disillusionment. He explains how he observed that happiness remained elusive everywhere and in all professions. Imlac becomes Rasselas's mentor, understanding and validating the prince's feelings of dissatisfaction. He teaches Rasselas about the human condition, the limitations of knowledge, and the widespread nature of misery, even in seemingly fortunate lives. Rasselas finds solace and guidance in Imlac's wisdom, and together they begin to contemplate a possible escape.

Section 3: The Escape

Motivated by Rasselas's persistent longing and Imlac's knowledge of the outside world, the group begins to plan their escape from the Happy Valley. This is no easy feat, as the valley is a natural fortress with only one highly guarded entrance. Imlac, drawing on his past observations and ingenuity, discovers a hidden, arduous passage through the mountains. With careful planning and considerable effort, they manage to clear the passage. Rasselas's sister, Nekayah, and her attendant, Pekuah, decide to join them. The escape is portrayed as a significant and perilous undertaking, symbolizing their break from a life of imposed comfort into an unknown world, driven by the desire to make a "choice of life" for themselves. They successfully emerge into the deserts of Abyssinia, leaving behind their former confinement.

Section 4: Observations of Human Life in Cairo

The group travels to Egypt, settling near Cairo. From this vantage point, they begin their systematic observation of human life in the real world. They visit various segments of society, hoping to find a pattern or a specific "choice of life" that consistently leads to happiness.

• Hermits: They first visit a hermit who sought spiritual peace and solitude in the desert. However, they find him miserable, consumed by loneliness and regret, longing for the society he had abandoned.
• Shepherds: They initially idealize the simple, rustic life of shepherds, believing their closeness to nature might bring contentment. Yet, they soon discover that the shepherds' lives are fraught with hardship, ignorance, and limited joys.
• The Wealthy: They observe the rich and powerful, concluding that wealth often brings greater anxieties, fears of loss, and increased responsibilities rather than genuine happiness.
• The Learned: They engage with philosophers and scholars, but find them often engaged in endless disputes, driven by vanity, or detached from practical realities, their theories failing to bring true peace or wisdom.
• The Common People: They witness the endless toil and petty concerns of the masses, finding little enduring joy.
  Through these observations, Rasselas and Nekayah frequently discuss their findings, often concluding that misery is universal, appearing in different forms across all social strata.

Section 5: Grief, Melancholy, and the Fear of Death

As their observations continue, the pervasive nature of human suffering deeply affects Nekayah. She falls into a profound melancholy, realizing that sorrow is an inherent part of the human condition, unavoidable even by the most prudent choices. She despairs at the prospect of life being a constant struggle against unhappiness. The group also confronts the universal fear of death and the uncertainty of what lies beyond. They discuss various philosophical and religious perspectives on mortality, but find no definitive comfort or resolution. Imlac, with his characteristic wisdom, attempts to alleviate Nekayah's distress by emphasizing that while perfect happiness is unattainable, a virtuous and informed life can offer a degree of contentment, and that the pursuit of knowledge and truth is still worthwhile, even if the ultimate questions remain unanswered.

Section 6: The Astronomer and the Pyramids

During their travels, the group encounters a learned astronomer who, through years of isolated study and unchecked imagination, has gone insane. He believes he controls the weather and the movements of the celestial bodies, living in constant fear of mismanaging his perceived cosmic duties. This encounter serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked intellectual ambition and isolation, highlighting how even profound knowledge, when pursued without balance, can lead to madness.

They also visit the ancient Pyramids of Egypt. These monumental structures prompt reflections on the vanity of human ambition, the futility of seeking earthly immortality through grand constructions, and the relentless march of time that reduces all human endeavors to dust. During this period, Pekuah is temporarily abducted by a band of Arabs, causing distress to the group. Imlac skillfully negotiates her return, and Pekuah recounts her experiences during captivity, finding that even in danger, there were moments of unexpected kindness, but also the universal boredom and triviality of human life.

Section 7: The Search for a "Choice of Life" and Return

After Pekuah's return, the group continues their quest for the ideal "choice of life." They consider various options, including marriage, political power, and a life of public service or private contemplation. However, they find inherent flaws, limitations, and potential for unhappiness in every path. They observe that marital bliss is often fleeting, political power brings envy and anxiety, and even the wisest individuals struggle with the complexities of life.

Imlac reiterates that true contentment is found not in external circumstances but in managing one's expectations, cultivating virtue, and accepting the limitations of human existence. Rasselas, still restless, suggests further travels to Europe, but Imlac wisely dissuades him, arguing that they would likely encounter the same forms of discontent there.

Eventually, the companions acknowledge that perfect happiness and a definitive "choice of life" are elusive ideals. They decide to return to Abyssinia, each making a provisional choice. Rasselas resolves to return to govern a kingdom, hoping to use his wisdom to serve others. Nekayah expresses a desire to establish a college for women, promoting education and rational thought. Pekuah wishes for a private "choice of life" that offers security and comfort. Imlac, having already experienced much of life, states he has no particular preference but will remain with Rasselas. The book concludes with them "making choice of life," but not finding it, embracing an understanding that happiness is a journey of continuous adjustment rather than a fixed destination.

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Literary Genre

Philosophical romance, moral fable, didactic novel, travelogue (elements of).

Author Information

Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) was one of the most prominent literary figures of 18th-century England, an influential essayist, critic, poet, and lexicographer.

• Lexicographer: His monumental achievement was A Dictionary of the English Language (1755), which took him nine years to complete and was widely considered the authoritative dictionary for over a century.
• Essayist and Critic: He published influential periodicals like The Rambler and The Idler, where he explored moral and philosophical themes. His critical work, Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets, remains a significant contribution to literary criticism.
• Biographer: He is famously the subject of James Boswell's The Life of Samuel Johnson, one of the most celebrated biographies in English literature.
• Pessimistic Realism: Johnson often conveyed a realistic, sometimes pessimistic, view of the human condition, emphasizing the toil, disappointment, and the impossibility of perfect happiness in life.
• Moralist: His works consistently explored ethical dilemmas, the pursuit of virtue, and the challenges of human existence.

Moral of the Story

The central moral of Rasselas is that perfect happiness is unattainable in human life. No external circumstances—neither wealth, power, solitude, pleasure, nor even extensive knowledge and travel—can guarantee lasting contentment or alleviate the inherent anxieties and sorrows of the human condition. Life is "everywhere a state in which much is to be endured, and little to be enjoyed." The book advises a wise resignation to this reality, suggesting that individuals should manage their expectations, cultivate virtue, seek knowledge, and find solace in reason and companionship, rather than endlessly pursuing an elusive ideal of perfect felicity.

Curiosities

• Speed of Writing: Samuel Johnson famously wrote Rasselas in the evenings of one week in January 1759. He undertook this incredible feat to earn money to cover his mother's funeral expenses.
• Original Title: The book was originally published under the title The Prince of Abissinia: A Tale. The shorter, more popular title Rasselas emerged later.
• African Setting: The choice of Abyssinia (modern-day Ethiopia) as a setting was a common literary device in 18th-century European literature. It allowed authors to explore universal human themes in an exotic, somewhat idealized, and removed context, often associating the region with legendary Christian kingdoms.
• Didactic Purpose: Rasselas is profoundly didactic, serving as a vehicle for Johnson's philosophical reflections. It challenges the optimistic views of human progress and perfectibility prevalent in some Enlightenment thought.
• Contemporary with Candide: Rasselas was published in the same year (1759) as Voltaire's Candide. Both works are philosophical tales that satirize or critique optimistic philosophies and explore the problem of evil and the search for happiness, though they reach different conclusions and employ different tones. Johnson denied any direct rivalry, but their parallel themes are striking.