The Repetitiveness of Rasselas

When one reads Rasselas, Prince of Abyssninia, they have to notices many similarities in the book, not only pertaining to the story, but also to the structure of the novel itself. The story of Rasselas, a young man searching for happiness, has the conclusion that there in no true happiness in the world. Not only has this story been told time and time again with different characters in a different setting, but always with the …

…also suggest that Rasselas’ efforts were for not, as he is at “the conclusion, in which nothing is concluded.” He has spent his time repeating his actions. He now wishes to return to the Happy Valley, the very place where he started. He will end his journey in the very place he started it from, the very place he wanted to get away from, returning to the fact that he will never find true happiness.