The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia

Rasselas, the titular character and protagonist of Samuel Johnson’s philosophical tale, is a dynamic and round figure who encapsulates the archetype of the seeker. Confined within the Happy Valley—a utopian environment designed to provide perpetual pleasure and security for its inhabitants—Rasselas experiences profound dissatisfaction. Despite the abundance of material comforts, he grows restless, yearning for a deeper understanding of happiness beyond the superficial joys offered by his surroundings. The journey he ultimately takes outside the Happy Valley is the vehicle for The Philosophical Exploration of Happiness and Its Attainability.

As a prince, Rasselas is initially depicted as content within the valley’s confines, but his character gradually evolves as he becomes increasingly introspective. Johnson employs indirect characterization, using Rasselas’s actions and philosophical dialogues to reveal his thoughtful nature and growing discontent. For example, Rasselas’s meditative walks and his critical observations of the natural world lead him to question the nature of human satisfaction. He envies the simplicity of animals, whose contentment stems from the fulfillment of basic needs, and begins to ponder whether there is a higher form of happiness that he has yet to discover.