The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia: Samuel Johnson (pgs 43-89)

Jordan Bronson, Tania Montalvo, McKenzie Maddox

Isolation

The Prince lives "confined in a private place" (43), which leaves him unsatisfied and restless.  "Every desire was immediately granted," (43) however there was no purpose to his life and he was unhappy.

Animals are simpler and find happiness more easily than people.  

Search for Purpose

"If you had seen the mysteries of the world you would know how to value your present state," (48)  This quote sparks a desire for the Prince to find purpose in his life, and he now wants to see the world to understand what true happiness entails.  

The way he will find this true happiness is to compare it to his current state of unhappiness.

Search for Escape to Find Happiness

• The gate that keeps them locked in is only opened once a year, so the Prince can not set of on his mission.
• How valid is it that this place is considered the happiest if they are locked away?  Regardless of how many teachers they have, there is no way they can really learn about the world when they are locked away. 
• Imlac: 
• How is he similar to Robinson Crusoe?
• He does not have happiness either, but he at least has found a purpose for his life.  How did he find this purpose? 
• "I am less unhappy than the rest because I have a mind with images..." (68) 
• Theme of Education

Predetermined Destiny

Rasselas and Imlac both had plans for their lives which they just could not bear to follow.  Their so called happy and satisfactory lives are not enough for them and they need to escape them.

Nekayah

• The fact that Nekayah wants to go on the journey to escape their "perfect" life helps to depict that it is not uncommon for people in this society to be unhappy.  Even if they have the lifestyles that many people envy. 

The Actual Escape

"Wherever he came (he) expected to be obeyed and the princess was frighted..." (73). 

"Detained them several weeks in the first village to accustom them to the sight of common mortals," (73).

• They divide how they want to explore.  Rasselas searches for happiness among the rich, Nekayah goes among the poor, but neither of them are successful. 

We are slightly confused about what is meant by "The happiness of a life led according to nature," (84).

Chapters make the book easier to read.  Also the chapters are titled give you details about what is to come in the next few pages.  

We haven't noticed a lot of religious themes thus far.