# The Prince Examines the Happiness of High Stations explained — The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia

> Chapter companion for The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia by Samuel Johnson.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_history_of_rasselas_prince_of_abyssinia_se/chapters/xxiv-the-prince-examines-the-happiness-of-high-stations
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_history_of_rasselas_prince_of_abyssinia_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_history_of_rasselas_prince_of_abyssinia_se/chapters