Samuel Johnson'S The History Of Rasselas, Prince Of Abyssinia And

Samuel Johnson's "The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia" and It's Feminist Conclusion, in which Nothing is Concluded

Feminism is described in many ways, but mainly it can be gathered as a movement against oppression, which fights for the civil and political equality of women and men, and towards the opportunity of self-independence. During the eighteenth century, Great Britain's society offered little opportunity for women to take part in the active roles of the male dominated world. Women were unable to participate in political, economic or social dealings. Society understood that women were supposed to be submissive to men, that their natural destiny was marriage, and that women needed only minimal education. Denying women a proper education was men's main weapon for keeping women subordinate.

On the contrary, Samuel Johnson highly believed in the human condition, in the opportunity of equal considerations and that women should be educated. In The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia (1759) Johnson explores much more than Rasselas' need for a choice of life and/or search for an identity by exploring the pursuit of happiness. In the novel, Johnson brings forth powerful characters, both male and female to transcend gender roles. These characters will travel around Samuel Johnson's feminist views on the meaning of happiness, touching on themes as oppression, marriage and education.

This paper will explore through the male characters' consideration of women and through the women characters' experience, that education leads towards good human understanding and therefore towards happiness. Nevertheless, it will also point out that Johnson's Feminist thinking, which gives in to society's morals and ideals, falls short at the end of the tale, since nothing is concluded and all return to their imprisoned sate of life in the secluded "Happy Valley".

The narrative begins with a pastoral description of the valley. The scene is practically picture perfect by description. However, no one can escape the "happy valley" and only once a year "the iron gate was opened to the sound of music; and during eight days every one that resided in the valley was required to propose whatever might contribute to make seclusion pleasant, to fill the vacancies of attention, and lesson the tediousness of time" (74). Artistic competitors arrived at this once a year event with the hope of being chosen to live in what was believed to be the happiest place on earth, a place where all needs and desires were granted and where no evil existed. The most successful of the entertainers receives a prize, which is no bargain: permanent incarceration. Even though Johnson's describes the valley as the perfect place to live in, he contradicts himself by also using words as secluded, tediousness and captivity. Rasselas dilemma is simple. He feels confined and imprisoned in this so-called "happy valley" and desires more to his life. At the beginning of the story, Rasselas does not know what he desires, but he does know that he is not happy.

Chapters II through IV of the novel clearly demonstrate how education is used to oppress the inhabitants of the valley. Everything is given and offered in order to keep everyone happy. "The sages who instructed them told them of nothing but the miseries of public life, and described all beyond the mountains as regions of calamity, where discord was always raging, and where man preyed upon man" (75). Education is being used by the instructors of the valley to oppress its inhabitants; to create fear of the unknown and pity whoever was excluded from their privileged life. Education is being used as powerful tool. In this occasion, it only makes the people of the "happy valley" conform to their sate of life. The state of seclusion and the parallel education of the valley are clearly forms of oppression. It is cruel to be locked away, especially kept away from reality. When Rasselas' discontent is noticed, one of the sages confronts him with hopes of bringing him back from his "disease of mind". Luckily, Rasselas believes that what the sage speaks are mere words. There is nothing new in his teachings and counseling. Rasselas knows he needs something new in his life and that he needs to learn the knowledge of others in the outside world.

Inside the valley, Rasselas meets Imlac, who teaches him new knowledge. Imlac tells Rasselas his life story and how he came to live in the valley. Rasselas seems to be infatuated with Imlac and his adventures throughout the world. Imlac knows that life outside of the valley will not be what Rasselas expects, but still he leads him on, because he knows that Rasselas has to learn things for himself and by himself. Imlac introduces him to tales he never could have imagined: of violent oppression, cruelty, robbery, envy, pride, power and even poetry. He also spoke to him about people and the human condition. When Imlac speaks about he Europeans, Johnson introduces one of his most important themes, which is education.

'They are more powerful, sir than we', answered Imlac,

'because they are wiser; knowledge will always

predominate over ignorance, as man governs the

other animals. But why their knowledge is more than

ours, I know not what reason can be given, but the

insearchable will of the Supreme Being' (91).

Nevertheless, Johnson individualizes the nations regarding their felicity, disregarding the European belief, by emphasizing that knowledge is by all resources an instrument towards pleasure and that with ignorance nothing can be achieved. Here is where Rasselas is finally convinced that escape is necessary and that what he lacks is complete happiness.

As a result, he begins his quest for knowledge, but he does not go alone. Besides Imlac, his sister Nekayah and her maid Pekuah accompany Rassalas. Nekayah was also discontent with her situation and longed to explore the world. She let Rasselas know that her intentions of leaving were real, and she will leave regardless of what he thought. Rasselas accepts her company and even feels bad from having kept his intentions from her. His trust in her relies on the fact that she must keep watch just in case anyone else discovers his plan.

At the beginning of their journey, they learn many things, from the handling of money and its power to dealing with different people, from different races to different social status. One important fact they learned was