COMPARATIVE STUDY OF JOHNSON`S

RASSELAS AND RUSSEL`S CONQUEST

OF HAPPINESS
Rasselas is a novel of wisdom by eminent man of letters Dr Johnson. Rasselas
explores the most universal of subjects, the quest of happiness. In this short
novel the young prince Rasselas finds himself in the utopian environment of the
happy valley surrounded by comfort, security, beauty and pleasure. In this so-
called paradise however, the prince suffers a state of mind ruled by melancholy,
restlessness. Boredom and daydreaming oppressed by idleness, the tedium of
time, and his own solitary company, Rasselas contrasts his own discontent with
the satisfaction of the animal grazing in the field. The cow that finds
gratification in eating grass and drinking the stream, the prince finds no
satisfaction in the middle delight of the five senses or the bodily pleasure.
Rasselas discovers a fundamental truth about happiness: it is peaceful state of
mind more than a perfect place. Another experience in the happy valley
provides a further insight into the truth of happiness. When Rasselas notices the
lambs and kids frisking and running, he concludes that man needs an object or
goal to attain to keep his life in motion and give it purpose: ``when I see kids
and lambs chasing one another, I fancy I should be happy if I had something to
pursue.`` man must have something to look forward in the future and anticipate
the happiness that lies ahead as well as enjoy the moment. Rasselas resolves to
leave the happy valley, his state of mind changes from stagnant listlessness to
active engagements in finding some way of escape to the world beyond the
mountains. Time no longer burdens him with monotony but pass enjoyably
because in the morning he rose with new hope, in the evening he applauded his
own diligence and in the might he slept sound after his fatigue.

Rasselas acquires greater understanding about happiness in his conversation

with the sage Imlac who befriends the young prince and leads him to the
journey to discover the choices of life that is the philosophy, profession or
social position that affords the greatest sources of human contentment. A fellow
inhabitant of the happy valley, Imlac explains that he suffers less restlessness
than Rasselas because of the state of mind: ``I am less unhappy than the rest
because I have a mind replete with images which I can vary and combine at
pleasure. `` Nothing can come from nothing. An empty mind cannot think,
happiness is increased when the mind has acquired a variety of images,
memories, ideas and data gathered from a myriad of sources (travel,
conversation, books, and acquaintance with people from all walks of life) that
fill the mind with the food for thought and reflection. Because man spends
much time in his own company and cannot always be socializing or seeking
diversion, the mind needs a storehouse of images that needs constant renewal
and stimulation lest it because a stagnant pool. Happiness then requires a life of
the mind, the desire for knowledge, and the ability to think.

Once Rasselas escape from the happy valley he mingles with people from all
walk of life and many professions, he determines the truth about happiness,
Rasselas concludes that some ways of life and more conducive to contentment
than others and provide a great degree of happiness. The knowledge that this
life offers no utopia, that restlessness comprises the human condition, that some
desire is necessary to keep life in motion, that happiness in increased by a mind
in possession of the truth and that happiness multiplies as a person`s world
enlarges is the timeless wisdom of Johnson`s classic.

Bertrand Russell was a British philosopher, his book ``The Conquest of

Happiness`` sums up much of his wisdom and experience. It is a recipe for good
living. Russell’s work is based on two assumptions; first, happiness needs to be
conquered. The Conquest of Happiness is essentially an optimistic book. The
Conquest of Happiness comes in three stages: first you need to learn about the
principle that lead to happiness, next internalise tem and finally, put them into
practice. Next you have to really feel to internalise these principles. Its not
enough to repeat them in parrot fashion, you have to really feel them as you do
your feeling of wanting to protect your own children.

Russell divides the conquest of happiness into two separate tasks, first
conquering unhappiness, which will give you peace of mind, and then attaining
happiness, actually living a joyful, zestful life. Some people are made more
unhappy by the thought that life is meaningless and that unhappiness is
manhood`s natural condition. Russell thinks that such people are projecting.
They draw false conclusion about the human situation from their own
temporary malaise. There is plenty to enjoy in life and this enjoyment makes
life worthwhile. Anxiety and worry are the cause of unhappiness; people often
try to avoid thinking about things that worry them. Russell`s advice is to do
precisely the opposite, we need to face worries head on.

There is no difference of opinion between Dr Johnson and Russell about

happiness. Johnson and Russell both advice how to avoid unhappiness in their
own way: Johnson through his novel ``Rasselas`` and Russell through his
philosophical book ``Conquest of Happiness. ``