Lecture on Chapters 5 – 8
Dr Daniels discusses Rasselas' contemplating leaving the Happy Valley, and introduces one of the principal characters of the book, Imlac.
“Oppression is, in Abissinian dominions, neither frequent nor tolerated; but no form of government has been yet discovered, by which cruelty can be wholly prevented. Subordination supposes power on one part and subjection on the other; and if power be in the hands of men, it will sometimes be abused. The vigilance of the supreme magistrate may do much, but much will still remain undone. He can never know all the crimes committed, and seldom punish all that he knows.” (p. 18)
This article is from the online course:
Samuel Johnson’s Rasselas: An Introduction
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