Comparison and Contrast: Rasselas by Johnson and Nourjahad by Sherida

Compare and Contrast
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Introduction
Rasselas by Johnson and Nourjahad by Sherida are both ancient novels that were written centuries ago. There are a number of aspects that are similar to the books and others that are different. This discussion seeks to compare and contrast the two novels.
Comparison
Both novels revolve around the human life. They all focus on the lives of real people living an ordinary life. For example Rasselas is a price who lives in a paradise. He has everything he wants but he is bored with the monotony of life. He therefore sets out to look for pleasures of the earth but later returns disappointed. This story is a reflection of real life in a real world. People make mistakes, and skip out on good opportunities, only to realize that they lost out. Nourjahad by Sherida also focuses on the life of a young person Nourjahad who values immortality and earthly riches. Nourjahad is provided with all the riches and even Schemzeddin the Persian ruler induces some immortality. Nourjahad later realizes that all his ambitions are in vain and that he has missed out on some opportunities to the earthly desires.
Both stories have a moral lesson. They revolve around the same theme of vanity of worldly pleasures. Prince Rasselas is not satisfied with the good life that he has in his paradise. He yearns for more and sets out to look for it. This is an indication of greed that prevents one from seeing what they have and tries to achieve more. When Prince Rasselas leaves his paradise, he does not appreciate what he has. He therefore leaves to search for a life of happiness and gaiety. Upon his return, he realizes that he is mistaken and that his desires constitute a chase after the wind. The moral lesson in Nourjahad by Sherida is that earthy riches as desired by Nourjahad should never be the ultimate goal in person’s life. Immortality is also an aspect that is not real and one that cannot be achieved. After having gone through various experiences, Nourjahad contends to the fact that he is wrong. He goes back to the ruler of Persia and seeks to make amends admitting that he is mistaken.
At the age of twenty-six, Rasselas begins to withdraw and appears seemingly unpleased with the pleasantries that he is showered with as a prince. Although the life is good, Rasselas finds the life too monotonous. “He wishes to have fun and believes that he could experience it on earth” According to him, the kin...