The story of Rasselas represents Samuel Johnson's attempt to explain a vital component in human nature--mankind's continual, often frustrating, search for personal happiness. As we complete a semester of English 205, let's take the opportunity to recognize that we have been studying not only British history and literature, but also the written record of a number of thoughtful, intelligent English men and women through the ages who have tried to understand and explain what it means to be human. While you are reviewing for the final exam, think back on what we have read. Did you read anything this semester which made you think, "Yes, that's what people are like!" or "I know someone like that"? Nominate your favorite piece of early British lit and explain why you like it. Thank you for your comments! I have enjoyed reading them and incorporating them into the course.Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Question for December 9: Rasselas, 2717-20 and 2730-46
The story of Rasselas represents Samuel Johnson's attempt to explain a vital component in human nature--mankind's continual, often frustrating, search for personal happiness. As we complete a semester of English 205, let's take the opportunity to recognize that we have been studying not only British history and literature, but also the written record of a number of thoughtful, intelligent English men and women through the ages who have tried to understand and explain what it means to be human. While you are reviewing for the final exam, think back on what we have read. Did you read anything this semester which made you think, "Yes, that's what people are like!" or "I know someone like that"? Nominate your favorite piece of early British lit and explain why you like it. Thank you for your comments! I have enjoyed reading them and incorporating them into the course.
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The story I enjoyed reading most this semester has been the most recent, Rasselas. I think Samuel Johnson's approach is what sets this story apart from others and appeals to me. He is an English poet yet writes his poem in a different way so that it made me really get into the setting and feel that Rasselas was true royalty from another part of the world. Some poets throughout the semester examined mankind's continual search for happiness like Marlowe's, "Doctor Faustus", or Milton’s, "Paradise Lost"; but none go more in depth to mankind's search for happiness than Johnson. Rasselas leaves a life that very few people have ever experienced, a life where he had anything money can buy. Although he could have anything, he did not have happiness. So like Doctor Faustus and Adam & Eve, he tried to find happiness by other means. Johnson highlights many facets of life through Rasselas’ travels. He reveals the never-ending hustle and bustle of big city life in Cairo, which I can relate to. I grew up in Atlanta and consider myself familiar with the city. I was ecstatic when my parents moved our family further north away from the big city and into suburbia. Johnson also proved that being a hermit is no way to live either. There cannot be happiness when you separate yourself entirely from everyone else and the Hermit explained that very well to Rasselas. Rassales’s journey through the story intrigued me and I think best explained the never-ending dissatisfaction that is in every human.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite piece that we read this semester was King Lear. King Lear reminded me of several people that I know. They are manipulated and believe anything that people say. They hear what they want to hear, and trust anyone. King Lear did this when he asked his three daughters how much they loved him. Based on their answers, they were given so much land. Two of the sisters manipulate their father and tell him what he wants to hear. The third sister knew that the sisters were manipulating him and so told him the truth. There are very few people in this world who will tell you the truth and not what you want to hear. King Lear got what he wanted from two of his daughters but didn’t like it when he actually got the truth from his third daughter. People do not like hearing the truth, but would rather hear good things. People are sensitive, and don’t like hearing the truth if the truth is bad. Sometimes people need to hear the ugly truth, even though they may not take lightly to it. King Lear heard the truth from his daughter and took away all her land and disowned her. She was his favorite, but after he heard the ugly truth, he discarded her. He did not like what he heard and so removed her and only listened to what he wanted to hear from his other two daughters. There are several people in this world like that. And because of that they will never face the ugly truth.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite read this year has been on Rasselas.However,before I read this piece I would have to agree with Locker because I too really related and enjoyed King Lear.I can relate very well to Rasselas because I sometimes find myself in disconnect or feel as if others are not feeling the same way I do.I also find myself not being content even when I have alot of things going my way.I agree with Dirtybird when he says "I think Samuel Johnson's approach is what sets this story apart from others and appeals to me. He is an English poet yet writes his poem in a different way so that it made me really get into the setting and feel that Rasselas was true royalty from another part of the world."I also concur with Dirtybird because he points out how people tend to think they will find happiness when they separate themselves from other people.However,happiness is not found when you isolate yourself from others.I feel like Rasselas relates very well with the majority of people because everyone has a void in their life that needs to be filled.Johnson did a very good job of painting this picture by using Rasselas to capture this void.
ReplyDeleteI do disagree with Dirtybird when he says, "Rasselas leaves a life that very few people have ever experienced, a life where he had anything money can buy. Although he could have anything, he did not have happiness."I feel like millions of people have found that money cannot buy happiness.
My favorite pieces of the semester were King Lear and Rasselas like all the post before me. Lear is all about manipulating to get what you want and that is so true in the world today. Society in this day is mostly about lies and back stabbing whoever you need to do in order to get to the top. People betray their own families if need be like in King Lear. People are able to filter what they hear by keeping the good and ignoring the rest. Many people are blinded to reality. King Lear was defiantly blinded to the truth because he was too concerned with how he would benefit from stepping down from the throne rather than what was best for his kingdom. The sad part is it sometimes takes complete failure and dissapointment to realize your mistakes in life. It took Lear pretty much losing everything to see that the one daughter he had disowned was the only person that was telling the truth to him.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading Rasselas as well because it made to me the most sense about finding happiness. Most everyone believes that in order to be happy, you have to have all the money in the world and be able to do whatever you want. Clearly that is not the case, it is very easy to get caught up in materialistic things and loose touch with reality. I think happiness is being with people who care about one another and are not concered with all the things one might have. People can hide behind their things but at the end of day is there anyone they can truly share that with. I know some people that can fit into both of the these situations and that could use a reality check.
-Sunflower92