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The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia · Character

The Hermit

A solitary man who lived in the desert and later returns to society.

minor

First appearance: The Happiness of Solitude—The Hermit's History

The Hermit's tie to Rasselas is one of the pressures that moves The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia—worth meeting in the text, not only on a cast list.

Relates his history of military service and fifteen years of solitude, resolving to return to society.
In the storyThe Happiness of Solitude—The Hermit's HistoryOpen this moment free

The Hermit first appears in 0022 xxi the happiness of solitude the hermit s history.

With Rasselas (social): Rasselas visits the Hermit to learn about the solitary life but finds him disillusioned. With Imlac (social): Imlac speaks with the Hermit as a fellow traveler in the search for wisdom. With The Astronomer (social): The Astronomer and the Hermit are both isolated figures whose paths cross briefly in discussions of solitude.

See The Hermit in The Happiness of Solitude—The Hermit's HistoryBook page

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Character Web

4 connections

A slice of how The Hermit sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

RARasselasIMImlacTAThe AstronomerNENekayahTHThe Hermit

Relationship types

  • Social
  • Other

Character groups

  • Captivity and Social Roles
  • Protagonist
  • Wisdom and Experience Seekers

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

SetupEscalationClimax
  • Setup
  • Escalation
  • Breaking point
  • Aftermath
  • Closing

The emotional and psychological peak occurs when the old man shatters the Prince’s hope that age brings peace,…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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Relationships

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See The Hermit in The Happiness of Solitude—The Hermit's History

In the story

The Hermit appears across 2 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for The Hermit unlock in the free preview.

See The Hermit in The Happiness of Solitude—The Hermit's History
See The Hermit in The Happiness of Solitude—The Hermit's History
The Hermit in The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia