reading diagnostic

This is a response to a passage we read in class from Samuel Johnson's The History of Rasselas Prince of Abyssinia

This story about a prince and his friend, the old sage, discuss the reason why the prince is not happy being in a place that his every desire is satisfied. It seems as though the old man is a servant to the prince’s father the king and the king has tasked him with finding out why the prince is so depressed. “The old man, thus encouraged, began to lament the change … in the prince.” After being asked why he is unhappy the prince says that pleasure is no longer pleasurable to him. The prince does show an air of maturity in that he does not wish spoil others happiness with his unhappiness. The old man tells the prince that he has everything he could ever want and that he should be happy. The prince finally tells his true complaint by saying that in having everything he wants, he has nothing to want. He also tells of longing to feel like he did when he was young and the world was new to him. The old sage not knowing what to say but not being content with being quiet says that if the prince had seen the miseries of life outside the palace he would appreciate the comforts that he has. At this suggestion the prince is overjoyed because he finally has something to want. The young man is saying that desire is having something to want and the old man is saying that if desire is fulfilled happiness will be achieved. If I were a part of this conversation I would not take a position and I would just sit quietly and add an agreement every so often. I am pretty sure the prince will now do the whole “sneaking out into the world disguised as a commoner” thing to experience the miseries of the world.