Inspired by John Self’s “Art of the Novella Giveaway”, I decided to check out Samuel Johnson’s book. Rasselas was, apparently, widely read in 18th Century England. The book also has some similarities to Voltaire’s Candide (also published in 1759), though Johnson’s work is not satirical but in earnest.
The original working title of Rasselas was The Choice of Life. The phrase “choice of life” recurs throughout the short book, eleven times to be precise. For Rasselas, the choice of life is his preoccupation throughout the novel until the very end. His conclusion is not particularly satisfying, but the book is not without its pleasures. Johnson has a good sense of humor and there are a number of good quotes, so I enjoyed it despite what I felt was a poor conclusion.
The tale begins by describing itself in cautionary terms. “[A]ttend to the history of Rasselas” warns our narrator. Rasselas is, as the title reveals, a Prince of Abyssinia.
According to the custom which has descended from age to age among the monarchs of the torrid zone, Rasselas was confined in a private palace, with the other sons and daughters of Abyssinian royalty, till the order of succession should call him to the throne.
The place which the wisdom or policy of antiquity had destined for the residence of the Abyssinian princes was a spacious valley in the kingdon of Amhara, surrounded on every side by mountains, of which the summits overhang the middle part.
The valley is a mythical utopia reminiscent of Voltaire’s El Dorado. Like Candide in El Dorado, Rasselas is dissatisfied with his life in the valley notwithstanding the various measures the king has put in place to ensure variety of entertainment and stimulation. Unlike Candide, Rasselas is not motivated by love for someone outside, but by curiousity. Despite the king’s diversions, Rasselas wants to see the world and contrives to leave the valley. He explains to an old sage who is trying to dissuade him from leaving that he has “enjoyed too much” and, instead, wants something to desire, even if he does not know what the desire is or should be.
The old man was surprised at this new species of affliction, and knew not what to reply, yet was unwilling to be silent. “Sir,” said he, “if you had seen the miseries of the world, you would know how to value your present state.”
“Now,” said the Prince, “you have given me something to desire. I shall long to see the miseries of the world, since the sight of them is necessary to happiness.”
I thought this might follow in the path of Candide, but it did not. Rasselas begins his search for the means to escape and does end up finding a way out of the valley. Rasselas, once he finds his way out, is not bent on seeing the miseries of the world, but on finding the optimal “choice of life”.
Rasselas is accompanied on his trip by his sister, Nekayah, and an older friend/philosopher, Imlac, who helped in the escape. They secret sufficient jewels in their clothes to be wealthy outside the valley. Further, Nekayah also brings several servants along. The group travels out and has several adventures while observing and questioning others in the pursuit of the key to happiness. Rasselas wants to be sure he knows the key to happiness before he makes his choice of life.
The interesting part of their adventures are their conversations as they continue to try to find people who are happy. At one point, Nekayah notes:
“Such,” said Nekayah, “is the state of life, that none are happy but by the anticipation of change; the change itself is nothing; when we have made it the next wish is to change again.”
Ultimately, the party is disappointed in their quest and Johnson provides his moralizing conclusion. While the quest was obviously quixotic from the beginning, the end seemed particularly preachy. Still, Rasselas is quite entertaining and a very interesting book to contrast with Candide (the more successful book, in my opinion).
Hungry Like the Woolf 
Am I correct in thinking that this is the Rasselas referred to in Jane Eyre, by Helen Burns? My interest was piqued at the time, but not to any effect! I didn’t even realise that it was written by Samuel Johnson.
Sarah,
You are absolutely correct. There are, apparently, numerous references to this work in 19th Century literature, including in Jane Eyre, Little Women, The House of the Seven Gables, and Middlemarch.
This is one of Guy Savage’s, of His Futile Preoccuations fame, favourite books as it happens. I have a copy myself, bought on the back of his comments, but haven’t read it yet. I must do so though.
The comparison to Candide is interesting, Candide is one of my favourite works (the second time I’ve said that today of something, the other was Les Liaisons Dangereuse). I doubt this will hit those heights for me, particularly given your comments, but I’m sure it will be worth reading still.
Max,
If you have read Candide and love it, I highly recommend reading this one. The comparison really is interesting. I did not like it nearly as much, but Johnson is quite funny and the book was obviously an important work at the time. (So many 19th Century references.)
I missed the references in Little Women and Middlemarch, but will look out for them if I re-read. (Which is always on the cards for Little Women.) Rasselas would be worth reading just to pin down those references.
But I haven’t read Candide either. Would it matter, do you think, which one you read first?
Sarah,
No, I don’t think it matters. You might like the first one you read better, though I think Candide is objectively superior. Still, that may be reason to read Rasselas first, just so you do not (yet) have something with which to compare it unfavorably.
Kerry: You have been silent lately. I am hoping that that is an indication of too much business and not something else. We miss you. Kevin
As Kevin says. Hope all is well. Sarah
Thanks, guys.
Count me in on the chorus Kerry, you’re definitely missed.
I found Rasselas sreally hard to get into initially. MAybe something to do with the fact that I love Vanity of human wishes so much. But needless to say I am glad I read it.
Marlayna,
Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I can definitely see how it could be difficult to get into initially. I have not read his Vanity of Human Wishes, so I should grab a copy. Seems you preferred it.