In the introduction, Johnson points out that the English don't have anything like the French Academy, which made (& still makes) legally binding rules to keep the language pure.  Despite such efforts, languages change.

• Enthusiasm notice the negative connotation this emotional word had in an era of reason.
• Patriotism- the last refuge of a scoundrel (when you bottom out, grab a flag)
• Patron - Johnson had financial trouble all his life, wanted to have rich patrons, but had trouble getting any.  But at least he didn't become bitter.
• Tory & Whig.  Can you tell which Johson was?
• Tory party.  The conservative party, supporting royal authority and the established church.  They opposed the reform of parliament to change the traditional rules of governing.
• Whig party.  The liberal party of the day, opposing royal authority & supporting the rule of parliament.

Johnson translated this ode a month before his death, but he was always aware of his mortality.

As the year swirls by, it reminds us of our own mortality.  Tempus fugit, vos (Time flies, ya'll.)
 

"Every man ought to read Rasselas and every wise man willread it over half a dozen times in his life.  Indeed, a man would de well to read it once a year at least, for never was wisdom better put."- Hilaire Belloc

To me, the major philosophical influence on this fable is Ecclesiastes. As you can see from the brief excerpt, Ecclesiastes, like Rasselas, centers on an experiment in living.  Both examine various lifestyles and try to determine which is the best.  Both consider all to be vanity.

Rasselas & his group never discover a life that will make them happy.  And while they are searching, time is passing.  He is well over 30 by the end of the story, and still unable to decide what to do with his life.  As chapter 30 notes, "while you are making the choice of life, you are neglecting to live."  Maybe there's fulfillment in groping.

For your increased reading and testing pleasure, fill in the following identifications as you read.