The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia · Chapter
XXIX: The Debate on Marriage Continued explained
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 dis
What happens
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.
Themes in this chapter
The Choice of Life
The chapter explores the choice between early and late marriage, weighing the advantages and disadvantages of each.
The Limits of Reason and Imagination
Nekayah argues that reason cannot settle many domestic disputes, highlighting the limits of rational decision-making in life's choices.
Characters to notice
- Rasselas
Argues that marriage can be made happy through prudence and benevolence, and that early marriages often lead to disappointment.
- Nekayah
Counters Rasselas's arguments, asserting that late marriages face rigid habits and that reason cannot decide all domestic matters.
- Imlac
Referenced by Nekayah as the source of the maxim that 'Nature sets her gifts on the right hand and on the left.'
Key passages
“The good of the whole is the same with the good of all its parts.”
What benefits all must benefit each individual.
Rasselas's opening argument for marriage.
“Nature sets her gifts on the right hand and on the left.”
Life's blessings are distributed on opposite sides, forcing a choice.
Nekayah's concluding maxim, attributed to Imlac.