Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Question for December 7: Rasselas, Pages 2698-2717
Chapters 16-22 follow Rasselas as he observes people in various places and stations. The pattern in each chapter is the same: Rasselas thinks that he has at last found someone who has made "the choice of life," a way of living that leads to perfect happiness, but by the end of each chapter he is disappointed. Choose any one of these chapters for your comment. What sort of lifestyle has been chosen that seems to lead to happiness? Why has happiness not been attained? Can you find any modern parallels to the events of your chosen chapter. (For this comment, since people may choose different chapters, it is not necessary to respond to previous posts.)
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During Rasselas journey across the countryside he comes upon some herders and farmers. He was interested in the people who lived off the land and led a pastoral lifestyle. He was sure that this lifestyle was "the life which has been often celebrated for its innocence and queit."ch 19. I can see why Rasselas thought the farmers and herders led a peaceful lifestyle because they have such little to worry about. Living off of the land and being happy with what they had sounded quiet appealing to Rasselas. Much like modern day farmers riding a tractor all day does not sound too bad - or does it? Rasselas soon found that people who depend on the land for their livelihood have worries of their own that he never had. Being wealthy, he never had to worry about where his next meal was coming from because it was catered to him. He did not have to worry about taking care of the animals they depended on because his servants did that for him. The herdsman and farmers envied Rasselas for his wealth and soon displayed their true feelings. Their unhappiness can be seen when Johnson said, "But it was evident that their hearts were cankered with discontent; that they considered themselves as condemned to labor for the luxury of the rich, and looked up with stupid malevolence toward those that were placed above them." It is easy to say Rasselas was not impressed the slightest bit by the pastoral life.
ReplyDeleteIn chapter 17, Rosselas finds that the gift of life that brings happiness is "Youth, the time of gladness: I will join myself to the young men, whose only business is to gratify their desires, and whose time is all spent in a succession of enjoyments"(pg. 2703). He found the boys happiness was to enjoy things while they are still young and do whatever they wanted. I can see why it looked like Rasselas' had found happiness with these boys because of their care free attitude and high spirits. Rasselas had never had that type of freedom in Happy Valley that the young men had and that intrigued him to learn more about the boys. But after spending a few days with them, Rosselas grew weary of their happiness. Their actions were not what he expected and their comments were gross and sensual. Rosselas was not impressed with the young men's manner toward anything; they were too reckless for Rosselas to consider that happiness. He leaves the young men with a few words "Let us consider that youth is of no long duration, and that in maturer age...we shall have no comforts but the esteem of wise men, and the means of doing good" (pg. 2703). In other words Rasselas is unhappy with the ignorance of the young men and tells them that they need to grow up and mature because their imaturity will only last for so long. I think that Rasselas saw the young men and thought they would bring fun and excitment to his life and that would make him find his happiness, but he quickly realized that he was too mature and in a different place in his life then the other men.
ReplyDelete-Sunflower92
In Chapter 20, Rasselas comes upon “a stately palace built upon a hill surrounded with woods” that is owned by an extremely wealthy man. He invites the travelers to stay with him and they discover how luxurious the accommodations are. There is music and a magnificent spread of food upon the table and “youths and virgins dancing in the grove.” However when Rasselas questions the master of the household, he finds that none of his possessions have brought him true happiness. The master’s prosperity and popularity has engendered jealousy and anger in others, and his life is in danger. He is only protected by the uncertain favors of the princes of the land, who could at any moment decide to let him die and share in his riches. He cannot truly enjoy the wealth he has gained because he is always waiting for the moment he will lose it all. The situation that the master has found himself in is reminiscent of the plight of modern day politicians and celebrities. They have a great deal of material wealth and fame, and can have almost anything they want, but it comes at a price. They are in a precarious situation and will never have any peace. They constantly have to deal with stalkers and death threats from people who are envious of their fortune. Tabloids are relentlessly watching them, hoping that they will make a mistake that they can expose to the world. They always have to worry whether a supposed friend will betray them and spill their secrets to the world in return for a generous check.
ReplyDeleteIn Chapter 18 In Chapter 18, the prince is walking in the street and begins to follow a stream of individuals into what seems to be a school or hall of knowledge in which professors lecture. There he comes across a man of wisdom who is discoursing upon the things of life, with great passion. “His look was venerable, his action graceful, his pronunciation clear, and his diction elegant.” Like many, his appearance an posture was appealing, causing him to follow the flow of words the man professed. His perspective on life is unconventional, he says man should no longer be the slave of fear, nor the fool of hope, and inflamed by anger. Man instead should walk on calmly through the vicissitudes of life, like the sun who calmly is sustained through the sky. Listening closely to this man of wisdom and reason, the prince is radically influenced by his views. “I have found, said the prince, at his return to Imlac, a man who can teach all that is necessary to be known, who, from the unshaken throne of rational fortitude, looks down on the scenes of life changing beneath him. He speaks, and attention watches his lips. He reasons, and conviction closes his periods. This man shall be my future guide: I will learn his doctrines, and imitate his life.” All knowing the humanity which lies in man, Imlac quickly rebukes him by saying, “they discourse like angels, but they live like men.” Rasselas at the end of the chapter finds the wise teacher in a state of darkness and depression due to his daughter’s death. Yet it is the teacher himself that spoke that death should be no surprise to a man, and so it should be expected. Rasselas immediately sees that even men that speak with great wisdom and precepts are faulty. It reminds me of how people put so much glory and faith in sport players and even music artists, and immediately after idolizing them they are let down by their infidelity, choices to use drugs or etc.
ReplyDelete-Annie08