50 pages • 1 hour read
Samuel JohnsonThe History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1759A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Chapters 42-49Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 42 Summary: “The Astronomer Justifies his Account of Himself”
The astronomer, sensing Imlac’s doubt, continued explaining his claim of controlling the weather. He acknowledged the difficulty of believing such a claim and viewed it as both a reward and a burden, causing more misery than happiness. He recounted how his observations of the sky led him to fantasize about manipulating the weather for humanity’s benefit. This fantasy became an obsession, and a coincidental rain during a hot day convinced him of his power. Nevertheless, he continued to grapple with the possibility of coincidence. He explained that he had therefore confided in Imlac due to Imlac’s capacity to understand the distinction between plausible and fantastical. The astronomer admitted he had no external proof and said that his personal conviction alone was insufficient. He revealed his concern over appointing a successor, believing Imlac was the most suitable person to inherit this tremendous responsibility.
Chapter 43 Summary: “The Astronomer Leaves Imlac His Directions”
The astronomer emphasized the complexity of altering the Earth’s and Sun’s positions, highlighting that each change benefited one region at the expense of another. He cautioned against using this power for personal gain or regional favoritism. The astronomer entrusted Imlac with this power, believing in his integrity and wisdom.
Chapter 44 Summary: “The Dangerous Prevalence of Imagination”
Imlac explains the powerful influence of imagination on the human mind, suggesting that a degree of imbalance between imagination and reason is common. He warns that indulging in fantasies can lead to obsessive thinking or detachment from reality, especially in solitude. Imagination, while a source of creative pleasure, can become overpowering, leading individuals to mistake fabrications for reality. Pekuah admits she fantasizes about being a queen, Nekayah says she imagines herself as a shepherd, and Rasselas envisions creating a perfect government.
Chapter 45 Summary: “They Discourse With an Old Man”
The group encounters an old man who shares his vast knowledge but expresses melancholy and disinterest toward the physical world, feeling he will soon leave it behind. His reflection on life is tinged with regret over missed opportunities and unfinished endeavors, though he finds some solace in having avoided grievous wrongdoings. Rasselas tries to find solace by rationalizing that the experience of age might not apply to the vigor of youth. Nekayah speculates that the old man might be envious of those who are young, while Pekuah wonders if personal misfortunes have skewed his outlook.
Chapter 46 Summary: “The Princess and Pekuah Visit the Astronomer”
Intrigued by Imlac’s astronomer friend, Nekayah and Pekuah arrange to meet him, seeking to understand his knowledge and peculiarities. They visit him under the guise of Pekuah continuing her astronomical studies, which piques his interest. The astronomer welcomes them warmly and enjoys their company, which brightens his spirits and thoughts. He begins visiting them at Imlac’s house, engaging more with mundane pleasures and philosophical conversations. Eventually, the astronomer confesses to Imlac that his belief in controlling celestial bodies is fading. Social engagements and altered routines have dispelled his old convictions, though he expresses fear of neglecting a supposed duty. Imlac reassures him, encouraging him to embrace moments of rational thought.
Chapter 47 Summary: “The Prince Enters and Brings A New Topic”
As Imlac and the astronomer talk, Rasselas and Nekayah enter, searching for something new to do and lamenting that happiness seems contingent on novelty. Rasselas marvels that the monks at St. Anthony adhere to the same routine every day despite it being one of hard work and deprivation. Imlac speculates that such an existence is actually more palatable than one of unvarying pleasure. The group discusses the merits of monasticism and ascetism. Imlac contends that it is better to do good in the world if one can, but he admits that for many, retreat from society is preferable; the world poses many temptations, and even “innocent” pleasures may prove harmful if one forgets that they are necessarily transitory. Knowing Nekayah is drawn to a life of solitude, Rasselas asks the astronomer if he knows of anything that might divert her interest for a while. The astronomer proposes that they visit the catacombs.
Chapter 48 Summary: “Imlac Discourses on The Nature of The Soul”
In the catacombs, Rasselas questions the ancient Egyptian practice of mummification, linking it to the preservation of the soul. Imlac critiques this view, arguing that the soul’s immateriality makes it independent of the body’s state. He dismisses the materialist argument that unknown properties of matter account for consciousness, asserting that it is unreasonable to set hypothetical possibilities against established knowledge. The conversation touches on the implications of the soul’s immateriality for its immortality. Imlac posits that immaterial entities, not being subject to decay, naturally possess the capacity for enduring indefinitely. Nekayah reflects on these insights, leading to a contemplation of mortality and the human condition.
Chapter 49 Summary: “The Conclusion, in Which Nothing is Concluded”
As the Nile begins its annual flood, the characters find themselves confined to their house, turning to discussions and reflections to pass the time. Each character contemplates their ideal form of happiness based on their experiences and personal inclinations.
Pekuah longs for the simplicity and devotion of a religious life, envisioning herself as a prioress in a convent, where she could live a stable and pious life away from the complexities of the world. Nekayah, always intellectually curious, imagines founding a college for learned women where she could both gain and impart knowledge, serving as a mentor and leader in a community of wisdom.
Rasselas dreams of ruling a small kingdom where he could personally oversee justice and government. Imlac and the astronomer are content to let life carry them forward without the need for grand ambitions or specific destinations.
Ultimately, the group acknowledges that their desires are unlikely to be fulfilled. After some deliberation, they decide that once the floods recede, they will return to Abyssinia.
Chapters 42-49 Analysis
The astronomer’s story epitomizes the limits of human understanding and control. His belief in his ability to control the weather reflects a grandiose delusion, which he justifies as a burden carried with the intention to do good. The astronomer’s eventual confession to Imlac underscores the theme that grand pursuits of power and control often lead to personal misery rather than fulfillment. It critiques the Enlightenment ideal of human reason and control, suggesting that such aspirations can be as confining and delusory as they are liberating; for all his supposed power, the astronomer remains plagued by doubt.
As Imlac’s commentary makes explicit, the astronomer’s narrative also highlights the dangers of unchecked imagination and the thin line between visionary ideas and mental illness. This theme is further exemplified through the characters’ confessions about their own escapist fantasies. Rasselas’s dream of creating a perfect government and Nekayah’s pastoral reveries both illustrate how powerful and seductive these imaginings can be, often to the detriment of engagement with the practical world. Their conversation underscores that while imagination can enrich life, it can also lead to delusion and dissatisfaction when not balanced with reason and reality.
As the narrative itself approaches its end, questions of mortality emerge, suggesting a parallel between the journey the characters have undertaken and the “journey” of life itself. The encounter with the old man introduces a somber tone as it considers the passage of time and the inevitability of decline. His melancholy and sense of missed opportunities resonate with the novel’s overarching theme of the transient nature of pleasure and the complexities of achieving lasting happiness. This conversation highlights the inevitability of aging and the associated loss of physical and emotional pleasures, suggesting that managing expectations and finding contentment in simplicity might be the key to happiness in old age. Imlac’s discourse on the nature of the soul similarly centers on questions of aging and death. Imlac’s reflections also tie together philosophical inquiries with the novel’s thematic exploration of human fulfillment. By emphasizing the immaterial and immortal nature of the soul, Imlac challenges not only the philosophical materialism that gained popularity in the Enlightenment but also materialism in its broader sense, suggesting that true happiness lies in spiritual understanding rather than worldly achievements.
The novel concludes with each character contemplating their ideal form of happiness. Pekuah envisions a pious life, Nekayah dreams of an intellectual community, and Rasselas fantasizes about ruling a just kingdom. However, they ultimately acknowledge the improbability of achieving these ideals. This resignation reflects The Critique of Utopian Thinking, emphasizing that grand aspirations often remain unattainable. In this respect, the difference between Rasselas’s fantasies and those of the two women is suggestive. Whereas establishing an entirely just society is an unambiguously utopian endeavor, Nekayah’s desire to educate herself and other women like her is utopian only according to the gender norms of the era.
Regardless of their reasons for dismissing their dreams as impractical, the characters’ decision to return to Abyssinia symbolizes their acceptance of life’s uncertainties and limitations and thus encapsulates the novel’s message regarding The Philosophical Exploration of Happiness and Its Attainability—namely, that the pursuit of happiness is complex and fraught with challenges. Johnson leaves the characters with an incomplete understanding that fulfillment is a multifaceted, elusive pursuit; acceptance of life’s imperfections and limitations is perhaps the only conclusion from an inconclusive journey.
