Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

652

Title

Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Samuel Johnson's philosophical fable explores the universal discontent of humanity. Set in a secluded valley of perfect security, the Prince of Abyssinia discovers that even total comfort yields no lasting joy. Through journeys into courts, humble homes, and monasteries, the narrative argues that life's purpose lies not in avoiding suffering but in active engagement with the world, ultimately pointing toward spiritual hope beyond earthly existence.

Summary up to 500 words

Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia, is the fourth son of a mighty Emperor, confined by custom to a magnificent, isolated valley surrounded by mountains. This valley, entered only through a massive iron gate, contains a lake, fertile pastures, and every creature and delight nature provides. It is a place where evils are excluded and every desire is immediately granted. The princes and princesses live in blissful captivity, entertained by musicians and dancers, convinced they possess all that art or nature can bestow. They are taught that the world beyond the mountains is a region of calamity. However, Rasselas, at age twenty-six, begins to feel a profound disquiet. He finds the repetition of luxury tedious and the security of his prison stifling. He withdraws from assemblies to observe the simple animals, noting that while beasts are satisfied with food and rest, he remains restless even when his needs are met. He realizes that the intermediate hours of life are gloomy and that he longs for change. Seeking an answer to his unhappiness, Rasselas and his sister Nekayah decide to leave the valley. They are accompanied by the sage Imlac and the princess's Ethiopian maid, Pekuah. Their journey takes them first to the Court of the Bassa, a high station in the world. Rasselas expects to find supreme happiness in power, believing that ruling thousands makes one happy. Instead, he discovers that high stations are fraught with suspicion, treachery, and the constant fear of falling from power. The Bassa he visits is eventually deposed and carried away in chains. Nekayah then investigates the lives of the poor and the middle class. She finds that poverty is often concealed and that domestic life is plagued by discord, jealousy, and the natural opposition between the young and the old. She observes that while marriage has pains, celibacy offers no pleasures, leaving one isolated from sympathy. She concludes that few families are entirely virtuous and that the evils of private life are frequent. The travelers continue their inquiry, visiting the Convent of St. Anthony. They find the monks content with a life of uniform hardship and devotion, viewing their labor and prayer as acts of piety leading to future felicity. Imlac argues that while the monks are less wretched than the princes, the world is not a place of inevitable misery. He suggests that those who cannot conquer the temptations of public life may properly retreat, but those who live well in the world are better than those who live well in a monastery. The group eventually visits the ancient Egyptian catacombs. Here, Imlac discusses the nature of the soul, arguing against materialism and asserting the immateriality and likely immortality of the mind. He suggests that while philosophy can prove the soul is imperishable, only divine authority can confirm it will not be annihilated by its Creator. As the Nile inundates the region, confining them to their house, the travelers reflect on their experiences. They realize that none are happy except by the anticipation of change...

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Categories

• Philosophy
• Fiction
• Politics