The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia by Samuel Johnson.
Chapter 1
The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia
The chapter introduces Rasselas, the fourth son of the Emperor of Abyssinia, who lives in the Happy Valley, a place of complete happiness and abundance. Despite all pleasures being provided, Rasselas grows discontented and restless, feeling that something is missing from his life. He begins to question the nature of happiness and seeks to understand the world beyond the valley.
Chapter 2
Description of a Palace in a Valley
The chapter introduces the Happy Valley, a secluded paradise in Abyssinia where the royal children, including Prince Rasselas, are confined until succession. The valley is described as a place of natural beauty and abundance, with all necessities provided and delights added during the Emperor's annual visit. The palace itself is a vast, labyrinthine structure built with secret passages and hidden treasures, designed to ensure security and isolation.
Chapter 3
II: The Discontent of Rasselas in the Happy Valley
Rasselas, now twenty-six, grows weary of the perpetual pleasures of the Happy Valley. He withdraws from amusements, takes solitary walks, and compares his own restless dissatisfaction with the contentment of animals. He concludes that humans have desires beyond mere sensory gratification, and that true happiness remains elusive. His melancholy is observed by a sage, but he finds some solace in his own eloquence and returns to evening diversions with a lighter heart.
Chapter 4
III: The Wants of Him That Wants Nothing
Rasselas, frustrated by the monotony of the Happy Valley, rejects the counsel of his old instructor who insists he lacks nothing. The Prince explains that his unhappiness stems from having no wants, which leaves him without purpose or desire. When the sage suggests that witnessing the world's miseries would make him value his state, Rasselas seizes on this as a new desire—to see those miseries.
Chapter 5
IV: The Prince Continues to Grieve and Muse
Rasselas, after a conversation with an old sage, experiences a brief hope that youth allows time for action, but soon falls into a pattern of idle daydreaming and visionary schemes. He spends twenty months in solitary musing, imagining adventures and benevolent deeds, yet never acting. A moment of self-reproach follows when he realizes how much time he has wasted, and he resolves to escape the Happy Valley after hearing a maid's casual remark about irreparable loss.
Chapter 6
The Prince Meditates His Escape
Rasselas, now determined to escape the Happy Valley, spends ten months exploring its boundaries—mountains, iron gate, and cavern—only to find them impenetrable. Though discouraged, he maintains hope and finds solace in studying nature, resolving to keep his design in view and seize any future opportunity.
Chapter 7
VI: A Dissertation on the Art of Flying
Rasselas visits an ingenious artist in the Happy Valley who has built various mechanical contrivances. The artist proposes building wings for human flight, sparking Rasselas's hope of escaping the valley. Despite Rasselas's skepticism about practicality and safety, the artist insists on trying, but his first flight ends in failure as he falls into a lake.
Chapter 8
The Prince Finds a Man of Learning
Rasselas persists in his desire to escape the Happy Valley despite a devastating flood that confines everyone indoors. During this time, he encounters Imlac, a poet who recites a poem on the various conditions of humanity. Fascinated, Rasselas engages Imlac in conversation, learning about the outside world and commanding him to tell his history, though the narrative is postponed by a concert.
Chapter 9
The History of Imlac
Imlac begins his life story, describing his birth in Goiama, his father's wealth and narrow ambitions, his own love of learning, and his decision to abandon commerce for travel and knowledge. He recounts receiving ten thousand gold pieces from his father, setting out on a trading journey, and ultimately choosing to sail to Surat to satisfy his curiosity about the world.
Chapter 10
The History of Imlac Continued
Imlac continues his narrative, describing his sea voyage and the initial disappointment of monotony, his arrival at Surat, and his journey to Agra where he encounters fraud and learns about human depravity. He recounts his time at the court of the Great Mogul, his refusal to aid dishonest merchants, and his subsequent travels through Persia and Arabia, observing diverse cultures and human nature.
Chapter 11
Imlac's History Continued—A Dissertation Upon Poetry
Imlac continues his history, explaining his pursuit of poetry as the highest learning. He describes his study of ancient poets, his realization that greatness cannot be achieved through imitation, and his turn to nature and life as his true subjects. He outlines the poet's duty to observe general properties of nature and all modes of life, to transcend personal and cultural prejudices, and to write for posterity rather than contemporary praise.
Chapter 12
XI: Imlac’s History Continued—A Hint of Pilgrimage
Imlac continues his narrative, describing his travels through Syria and Palestine, where he observed the power and knowledge of European nations. The Prince expresses a desire to visit Palestine and questions the value of pilgrimage. Imlac distinguishes between reasonable and superstitious pilgrimage, and the chapter concludes with a discussion on whether knowledge leads to happiness, with Imlac asserting that human life everywhere involves much endurance and little enjoyment.
Chapter 13
The Story of Imlac Continued
Imlac confesses to Prince Rasselas that the inhabitants of the Happy Valley are not truly happy, lamenting their confinement and envy. Rasselas reveals his long-meditated plan to escape and asks Imlac to be his guide. Imlac warns of the world's dangers but agrees to help. He then continues his personal history, describing his return to Abyssinia after years of travel, only to find his father dead, his friends gone, and his attempts at a settled life thwarted by rejection and disappointment, leading him to seek refuge in the Happy Valley.
Chapter 14
XIII: Rasselas Discovers the Means of Escape
Rasselas, after hearing Imlac's stories, finds his unease lifted by having a friend and confidant. Together they devise a plan to escape the Happy Valley by tunneling through the mountain, inspired by the burrowing of coneys. Despite initial difficulties, they persist and discover a fissure that aids their progress, with Imlac emphasizing perseverance over superstition.
Chapter 15
XIV: Rasselas and Imlac Receive an Unexpected Visit
Rasselas and Imlac are discovered in their escape preparations by Princess Nekayah, who insists on joining them. Rasselas agrees, and they complete their tunnel to the top of the mountain, where they behold the Nile and anticipate their departure from the Happy Valley.
Chapter 16
XV: The Prince and Princess Leave the Valley, and See Many Wonders
Rasselas, Nekayah, and Imlac escape the Happy Valley with the Princess's maid Pekuah. They descend into the outside world, experiencing fear and wonder at the vastness. After encountering shepherds and traveling through villages, Imlac teaches them to adapt to common life. They eventually reach the seacoast, stay at a port, and then sail to Suez, traveling overland to Cairo.
Chapter 17
They Enter Cairo, and Find Every Man Happy
Rasselas, Imlac, and the party arrive in Cairo, where Imlac poses as a wealthy merchant to gain access to all levels of society. The Prince and Princess study the language for two years, then begin observing various conditions of life. At first, Rasselas believes everyone is truly happy, but Imlac warns him that outward gaiety often conceals inner sadness, and that happiness is rarely found.
Chapter 18
The Prince Associates with Young Men of Spirit and Gaiety
Rasselas decides to seek happiness among young men devoted to pleasure, but quickly becomes disillusioned by their empty mirth and lack of purpose. He attempts to counsel them on the importance of planning for the future, but is met with laughter and derision. Despite this, he maintains his resolve and continues his search for solid and permanent happiness.
Chapter 19
The Prince Finds a Wise and Happy Man
Rasselas attends a lecture by a philosopher who extols the conquest of passion through reason, believing he has found a wise and happy guide. However, when he later visits the philosopher, he finds him grief-stricken over his daughter's death, revealing the emptiness of rhetorical wisdom in the face of real suffering.
Chapter 20
XIX: A Glimpse of Pastoral Life
Rasselas, still seeking happiness, decides to visit a hermit near the Nile to learn if solitude offers what public life cannot. Accompanied by Imlac and the Princess, they encounter shepherds whose discontent and ignorance reveal the harsh realities behind the idealized pastoral life. The Princess rejects rustic simplicity, yet still dreams of a refined, peaceful existence in nature.
Chapter 21
The Danger of Prosperity
Rasselas and his party encounter a wealthy master in a secluded, luxurious estate. The master appears happy but confesses that his prosperity endangers him, as the Bassa of Egypt is his enemy. The party laments his plight and then departs to find the hermit.
Chapter 22
The Happiness of Solitude—The Hermit's History
The party visits a hermit who has lived in solitude for fifteen years. Despite his initial appearance of wisdom, the hermit confesses that his retreat has not brought him happiness and that he plans to return to society the next day. He accompanies them back to Cairo.
Chapter 23
The Happiness of a Life Led According to Nature
Rasselas attends an assembly of learned men and recounts his interview with the hermit. The assembly debates the merits of retirement versus social duty. A philosopher asserts that happiness is achieved by living according to Nature, but when pressed by Rasselas to define this maxim, his explanation proves obscure and unsatisfying.
Chapter 24
The Prince and His Sister Divide Between Them the Work of Observation
Rasselas, uncertain after his reflections, decides to continue his search for happiness. He and his sister Nekayah agree to divide their observations: he will examine courts and power, while she explores humble private life.
Chapter 25
The Prince Examines the Happiness of High Stations
Rasselas visits the court of the Bassa to examine the happiness of high stations, but discovers that those in power live in constant suspicion, faction, and treachery. The Bassa is eventually deposed and carried in chains to Constantinople, leading Rasselas to question whether any ruler can truly be happy.
Chapter 26
The Princess Pursues Her Inquiry with More Diligence Than Success
Princess Nekayah investigates private life by visiting many families, but finds their pleasures shallow, their griefs transient, and their affections based on trivialities. She and Rasselas meet in a summerhouse on the Nile, where she laments that no house is free from some fury that destroys its quiet. She also observes that poverty is often concealed in cities, and that even her charitable acts sometimes breed resentment rather than gratitude.
Chapter 27
The Princess Continues Her Remarks Upon Private Life
Princess Nekayah continues her discourse on private life, describing the discord that plagues families, the natural opposition between parents and children, and the difficulties of marriage and celibacy. She argues that domestic happiness is rare and that both marriage and single life have their own miseries, leaving Rasselas uncertain about how to live.
Chapter 28
Disquisition Upon Greatness
Rasselas and Nekayah debate the nature of greatness and happiness. Rasselas argues that high stations are not abodes of happiness, as those in power face opposition, betrayal, and the impossibility of perfect justice. Nekayah counters that virtue does not guarantee visible happiness, as both good and bad suffer alike from natural and political evils.
Chapter 29
Rasselas and Nekayah Continue Their Conversation
Rasselas and Nekayah debate the nature of marriage and happiness, with Rasselas arguing that marriage is a natural means to happiness and Nekayah countering that it often leads to misery. They agree to avoid bitter controversy and assist each other in their search for happiness, ultimately focusing on their own needs rather than the world's.
Chapter 30
XXIX: The Debate on Marriage Continued
Rasselas and Nekayah continue their debate on marriage, with Rasselas arguing that prudence and benevolence can make marriage happy, while Nekayah counters that late marriages face fixed habits and that reason cannot settle all domestic disputes. The princess concludes that life's goods are opposed and one must choose and be content.
Chapter 31
Imlac Enters, and Changes the Conversation
Imlac interrupts Rasselas and Nekayah's discussion of private life, urging them to study history and ancient monuments to understand human nature. He argues that knowledge of the past is essential for judging the present and making wise choices. The conversation turns to the pyramids, and the party resolves to visit them.
Chapter 32
They Visit the Pyramids
The party travels to the Great Pyramid, where Imlac explains its construction and durability. When they prepare to enter, Pekuah is terrified by the narrow entrance and gloom, fearing apparitions. Imlac discusses the universal belief in ghosts, but the Princess resolves to enter despite her fears.
Chapter 33
XXXII: They Enter the Pyramid
Pekuah descends to the tents while the rest enter the Pyramid. They explore the galleries, vaults, and the supposed burial chest. Imlac reflects on the motives behind the Pyramid's construction, contrasting it with the practical purpose of the Great Wall of China. He argues that the Pyramid was built not for utility but to satisfy the insatiable hunger of imagination and vanity, serving as a monument to the insufficiency of human enjoyments.
Chapter 34
The Princess Meets with an Unexpected Misfortune
After exploring the Pyramid, the Princess and her party discover that the Lady Pekuah and her maids have been kidnapped by a troop of Arabs. Rasselas impulsively wants to pursue the robbers, but Imlac counsels against it, noting the futility of their slow beasts against the Arabs' trained horses. The returning Turkish horsemen confirm they could not overtake the captors, deepening the Princess's grief.
Chapter 35
They Return to Cairo Without Pekuah
After losing Pekuah to Arab kidnappers, the party returns to Cairo in despair. Nekayah is inconsolable, and despite attempts by the Prince and Imlac to seek help from the Bassa and private agents, all efforts fail. Two months pass with no word of Pekuah. Nekayah blames herself for not being more authoritative, but Imlac consoles her by arguing that virtuous actions, even when they lead to misfortune, are not to be regretted.
Chapter 36
XXXV: The Princess Languishes for Want of Pekuah
Nekayah, having reconciled herself to her loss, sinks into silent pensiveness and gloomy tranquillity, treasuring memories of Pekuah. She loses interest in pleasure and learning, and resolves to retire into solitude. Imlac and Rasselas counsel her against irrevocable decisions, urging her to re-engage with the world. Rasselas secures a promise from Nekayah to wait a year before any unalterable resolution.
Chapter 37
XXXVI: Pekuah Is Still Remembered. The Progress of Sorrow
Nekayah gradually returns to common cares and pleasures despite her grief over Pekuah's kidnapping. She initially imposes a daily mourning ritual but slowly abandons it, though her love for Pekuah remains undiminished. She asks Imlac to continue searching for Pekuah, and reflects on the misery that can arise from happiness itself.
Chapter 38
The Princess Hears News of Pekuah
A messenger returns with news that Pekuah is held by an Arab chief demanding ransom. Imlac advises caution and arranges a secure exchange at the monastery of St. Anthony. The ransom is paid, Pekuah is freed, and she is joyfully reunited with the Princess.
Chapter 39
The Adventures of the Lady Pekuah
Pekuah recounts her kidnapping by Arabs, her initial fear and confusion, the courteous treatment by the Arab chief who mistakes her for a princess, the negotiation of her ransom, and her subsequent observations of the desert and its ancient ruins.
Chapter 40
The Adventures of Pekuah Continued
Pekuah continues her account of captivity with the Arab chief, describing her life in his fortress on an island in the Nile. She recounts her initial terror, the diversions of the Arab's women, her study of the stars, and the Arab's procrastination in securing her ransom. She is eventually ransomed and returns to the party, where Nekayah embraces her and Rasselas rewards her.
Chapter 41
The History of a Man of Learning
Rasselas declares his intention to devote himself to learning and solitude, prompting Imlac to caution him by recounting his acquaintance with a learned astronomer. Imlac describes the astronomer's vast knowledge, benevolence, and apparent happiness, but notes signs of hidden distress beneath his composed exterior.
Chapter 42
The Astronomer Discovers the Cause of His Uneasiness
The astronomer reveals to Imlac that he has secretly believed for five years that he controls the weather and seasons, a delusion he now confesses in the hope of devolving this heavy responsibility onto his trusted friend.
Chapter 43
The Opinion of the Astronomer Is Explained and Justified
The astronomer explains to Imlac how he came to believe he controls the weather, describing his ten-year delusion and his desire to appoint a successor.
Chapter 44
The Astronomer Leaves Imlac His Directions
The astronomer imparts his directions to Imlac, detailing his delusion of controlling the weather and the sun, and his relief at passing on the burden. Rasselas listens seriously, while Nekayah and Pekuah react with amusement, prompting Imlac to admonish them about the fragility of reason.
Chapter 45
XLIV: The Dangerous Prevalence of Imagination
Imlac warns that unchecked imagination can lead to a form of madness, as fictions begin to operate as realities. The favorite, the Princess, and the Prince each confess their own indulgent fantasies, from imagining royalty to pastoral idylls to schemes of perfect government, illustrating the danger of allowing fancy to dominate reason.
Chapter 46
They Discourse with an Old Man
The party encounters an old sage during an evening walk along the Nile. He speaks candidly about the disappointments of old age, the loss of novelty, and the vanity of human wishes, leaving the group sobered. Rasselas, Nekayah, and Pekuah each react differently, while Imlac refrains from deepening their melancholy.
Chapter 47
The Princess and Pekuah Visit the Astronomer
The Princess and Pekuah, intrigued by Imlac's description of the astronomer, seek to meet him. After several schemes, Pekuah gains entry as a student of astronomy, and the astronomer is charmed by her. Over time, the astronomer becomes a close friend of the group, and his delusion of controlling the weather begins to fade as he enjoys human company. He confesses his doubts to Imlac, who advises him to resist his superstitious fears by engaging in worldly activities and companionship.
Chapter 48
The Prince Enters, and Brings a New Topic
The astronomer shares his relief at having confided in Imlac, who reassures him. Rasselas, Nekayah, and Pekuah join them, and the conversation turns to the necessity of variety and the monastic life. Imlac contrasts the disciplined life of monks with the idle luxury of the Happy Valley, and debates the merits of monastic retreat versus active worldly virtue. The discussion ends with Rasselas proposing a visit to the catacombs, which they undertake the next day.
Chapter 49
XLVIII: Imlac Discourses on the Nature of the Soul
In a philosophical debate sparked by a visit to the Egyptian catacombs, Imlac argues for the immateriality and natural imperishability of the soul, while Rasselas and Nekayah question how something without extension can exist and whether the Creator could destroy it. The astronomer cautions against limiting divine power, but Imlac insists that reason cannot admit hypothetical possibilities against known certainties. The chapter concludes with the party leaving the tombs, Rasselas reflecting on the shortness of life and the choice of life, and Nekayah turning her thoughts toward the choice of eternity.
Chapter 50
The Conclusion, in Which Nothing Is Concluded
During the Nile's inundation, the party is confined indoors and reflects on their observations of different forms of life. Each character articulates a personal scheme of happiness: Pekuah wishes to become prioress of a convent, the Princess desires to found a college of learned women, the Prince wants a small kingdom to govern justly, while Imlac and the astronomer are content to drift. They acknowledge that none of their wishes can be obtained and resolve to return to Abyssinia when the flood subsides.
