The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia · Chapter
The Prince Examines the Happiness of High Stations explained
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.
What happens
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.
Themes in this chapter
The Vanity of Human Wishes
Rasselas observes that high stations bring not happiness but suspicion, faction, and treachery, culminating in the Bassa's deposition.
The Choice of Life
Rasselas examines whether the life of a ruler is truly happy, questioning the value of power and subordination.
Characters to notice
- Rasselas
Visits the Bassa's court to observe the happiness of high stations, witnesses the treachery and downfall of the Bassa.
- Nekayah
Rasselas addresses his sister with questions about power and happiness after the Bassa's deposition.
- The Bassa
The ruler whose court Rasselas visits; he is deposed and carried in chains to Constantinople.
Key passages
“There can be no pleasure equal to that of feeling at once the joy of thousands all made happy by wise administration.”
Rasselas initially believes that the greatest pleasure is the power to make thousands happy through wise rule.
Rasselas's early idealistic view of power.
“What are we now to think of the prerogatives of power?”
Rasselas questions the true benefits of power after witnessing the Bassa's downfall.
Rasselas's disillusionment with high stations.