perpetually and unalterably cheerful, but feel my own mind restless and uneasy. I am unsatisfied with those pleasures which I seem most to court . . . am only loud and merry to conceal my sadness” (363). This introduces the idea that happiness can be faked, and just like Rasselas fakes his happiness, his friends too can fake their own happiness. Imlac reassures Rasselas, that just like he questions his own happiness, his friends might be doing the exact same thing, only maintaining fronts to fit in with their seemingly happier friends. Furthermore, supporting Pope, Johnson also seems to suggest that happiness is a social endeavor. Rasselas, when discussing happiness with Nekayuh says, “it is our business to consider what beings like us may
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It seems that Alexander Pope’s views expressed in his Essay on Man were largely influenced by his life’s circumstances. To say that Pope lived a difficult life would be an understatement. From the start, Pope was denied education as a child due to his Catholic upbringing and the Test Acts, which denied Catholics the ability to teach, attend university, vote, or hold public office (“Charles II”). Pope was taught how to read at home and attended illegal Catholic schools in London, which are responsible for his education. Pope also suffered from various health problems beginning at the age of 12. He acquired Pott’s disease from drinking contaminated milk, which left him with a hunchback and stunted his growth at 4’6”. His poor health resulted in his mockery and alienation by others, which added to the alienation he already experienced as a Catholic (“Alexander Pope”). Because he lacked social advantages, such as coming from an affluent, socially prominent family, it makes sense that Pope would view happiness in a way that was not constrained or dictated by materiality or his social circumstances. Given his religious background and social rejection, it makes complete sense that Pope would find comfort and happiness in knowing that God would grant him and others happiness if they acted …show more content…
He grew up in poverty and suffered from multiple health problems, such as depression and Tourette’s syndrome (Folkenflik). His madness and depression seem to have largely influenced his writing, in which his characters are unable to find happiness despite their tireless efforts to experience it and gain it through travels and meeting new people. Boswell, a close friend of Johnsons said, “he felt himself overwhelmed with an horrible melancholia, with perpetual irritation, fretfulness, and impatience; and with a dejection, gloom, and despair, which made existence misery" (Bate 117). His depression and restlessness can be seen in his main character Rasselas, who remains unhappy from the beginning of the narrative and during all of his encounters with new people, constantly questioning how those around him are happy when he himself struggles to feel at ease. Through analyzing the lives of the three writers, as well as the works that they produced, there is a clear correlation between the portrayal of happiness in their works that matches up with the lives that they led and the struggles they experienced as a result of their
It seems that Alexander Pope’s views expressed in his Essay on Man were largely influenced by his life’s circumstances. To say that Pope lived a difficult life would be an understatement. From the start, Pope was denied education as a child due to his Catholic upbringing and the Test Acts, which denied Catholics the ability to teach, attend university, vote, or hold public office (“Charles II”). Pope was taught how to read at home and attended illegal Catholic schools in London, which are responsible for his education. Pope also suffered from various health problems beginning at the age of 12. He acquired Pott’s disease from drinking contaminated milk, which left him with a hunchback and stunted his growth at 4’6”. His poor health resulted in his mockery and alienation by others, which added to the alienation he already experienced as a Catholic (“Alexander Pope”). Because he lacked social advantages, such as coming from an affluent, socially prominent family, it makes sense that Pope would view happiness in a way that was not constrained or dictated by materiality or his social circumstances. Given his religious background and social rejection, it makes complete sense that Pope would find comfort and happiness in knowing that God would grant him and others happiness if they acted …show more content…
He grew up in poverty and suffered from multiple health problems, such as depression and Tourette’s syndrome (Folkenflik). His madness and depression seem to have largely influenced his writing, in which his characters are unable to find happiness despite their tireless efforts to experience it and gain it through travels and meeting new people. Boswell, a close friend of Johnsons said, “he felt himself overwhelmed with an horrible melancholia, with perpetual irritation, fretfulness, and impatience; and with a dejection, gloom, and despair, which made existence misery" (Bate 117). His depression and restlessness can be seen in his main character Rasselas, who remains unhappy from the beginning of the narrative and during all of his encounters with new people, constantly questioning how those around him are happy when he himself struggles to feel at ease. Through analyzing the lives of the three writers, as well as the works that they produced, there is a clear correlation between the portrayal of happiness in their works that matches up with the lives that they led and the struggles they experienced as a result of their