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| A place for reflection in Lichfield, England, Samuel Johnson's hometown |
In his short novel, The History of Rasselas, Prince of
Abyssinia, Samuel Johnson introduces us to Rasselas, a young man intent upon finding
happiness. He grew up in the Happy Valley, where all his needs and whims were catered to. Yet this wealth of pleasures left him unfulfilled. After living incognito in Cairo for two years, Rasselas can converse with the locals, and knows
the unwritten rules of conduct that underpin Egyptian society. Accompanied by his
advisor Imlac, Rasselas attends all types of community functions.
Wherever he went he met gaiety and kindness, and heard the
song of joy or the laugh of carelessness. He began to believe that the
world overflowed with universal plenty, and that nothing was withheld either
from want or merit; that every hand showered liberality and every heart melted
with benevolence: “And who then,” says he, “will be suffered to be
wretched?”
Yet, just as in the Happy Valley, Rasselas grows depressed. Everyone looks so happy, but he has
yet to find his place in the world. Imlac counsels him that every person’s fate is
subject to forces beyond his control. Few occupy the positions in
life that they set out to inhabit. If they do, they no doubt found the reality at variance with their preconceptions. Therefore, when a person sees others smiling, laughing, or having fun, it's easy to believe that they must be happy and content.
“In the assembly where you passed the last night there
appeared such sprightliness of air and volatility of fancy as might have suited
beings of a higher order, formed to inhabit serener regions, inaccessible to
care or sorrow; yet, believe me, Prince, was there not one who did not dread
the moment when solitude should deliver him to the tyranny of
reflection.”
Rasselas has escaped the Happy Valley with sufficient riches to tour the world. He is hardly ready to settle down, or spend his days in contemplation. He wishes to search for those places and situations where people seem the happiest, so that he too can live there, and find his ideal occupation. Imlac spent most of his life exploring the world, and believes that no ideal society exists. But he is a patient man, and regards Rasselas with great affection, so he is happy to accompany him on his travels. Thus Samuel Johnson reminds us that we must brave the daunting task of looking inward to understand ourselves, if we are to order our days around the people, places, activities, and situations most important to us.
Rasselas has escaped the Happy Valley with sufficient riches to tour the world. He is hardly ready to settle down, or spend his days in contemplation. He wishes to search for those places and situations where people seem the happiest, so that he too can live there, and find his ideal occupation. Imlac spent most of his life exploring the world, and believes that no ideal society exists. But he is a patient man, and regards Rasselas with great affection, so he is happy to accompany him on his travels. Thus Samuel Johnson reminds us that we must brave the daunting task of looking inward to understand ourselves, if we are to order our days around the people, places, activities, and situations most important to us.
Dragon Dave
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