Still Alive
In fiction, death has meaning. Protagonists go down in blazes of glory. Antagonists fall allowing everyone beneath them, quite abruptly, to be free and live happily ever after. It is amazing how often the world is presented as something fragile enough that a single life can tip the scales.
Death in real life usually doesn’t mean much. Oh, we’re sad when loved ones die and death, in general, is a lurking force in our lives. But when someone dies in real life, it is usually senseless and empty. Little is learned and little is gained. It is a loss, but not much changes. Systems are in place for successors, people adapt and life goes on.
People often try to make one’s death matter. Murderers think that offing one person will significantly benefit them. Martyrers think that their life will advance an issue. In the end, though, it usually takes many murders and many martyrs before anyone takes notice or anything changes.
Historians, both professional and amateur, attempt to make deaths matter as well. With nearly every emperor, king and president, there is a story that tries to exploit a death. Often there is a rumor of murder (Napoleon), or conspiracy (JFK), or a fantastic quote (John Adams). No “great man” can simply die, it seems. With a great story, people attempt to use a death to mobilize people behind or against something.
Some individuals, though, were so important that the rumor of life was stronger than death. Through supernatural means, these divine characters continued on.
Alexander the Great led armies to conquer most of Greece, Asia Minor, Egypt, Persia and India. When he died (probably of natural causes), the diadochi quickly split things up and things went to pot. For hundreds of years, rumors circulated that Alexander (who was the son of Zeus) was still alive and still conquering.
Nero held the vast Roman Empire together under a period of economic prosperity. When he died, the empire fell into civil war. Again, for hundreds of years, rumors circulated among his admirers and enemies that Nero (the last son of Aeneas, descendant of Venus, and, to the Christians, the Antichrist) was still alive and would return.
And, of course, there is the story of Jesus, which has all of the elements. He is the son-of-God martyr who was conspired against and murdered. He said a bunch of great quotes and he is rumored to be alive. The story has then been used to mobilize people more people than any other.
These stories show that life is more powerful than death. With death, one can only make one limited statement, which eventually is forgotten. With life, one can have many more tales. This can even be seen in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn. Spock dies to make a powerful ending, but writers realized that Spock resurrected, as ridiculous as it was, was more useful.
Perhaps one day, Americans will believe that a divine Washington is still alive.
Death in real life usually doesn’t mean much. Oh, we’re sad when loved ones die and death, in general, is a lurking force in our lives. But when someone dies in real life, it is usually senseless and empty. Little is learned and little is gained. It is a loss, but not much changes. Systems are in place for successors, people adapt and life goes on.
People often try to make one’s death matter. Murderers think that offing one person will significantly benefit them. Martyrers think that their life will advance an issue. In the end, though, it usually takes many murders and many martyrs before anyone takes notice or anything changes.
Historians, both professional and amateur, attempt to make deaths matter as well. With nearly every emperor, king and president, there is a story that tries to exploit a death. Often there is a rumor of murder (Napoleon), or conspiracy (JFK), or a fantastic quote (John Adams). No “great man” can simply die, it seems. With a great story, people attempt to use a death to mobilize people behind or against something.
Some individuals, though, were so important that the rumor of life was stronger than death. Through supernatural means, these divine characters continued on.
Alexander the Great led armies to conquer most of Greece, Asia Minor, Egypt, Persia and India. When he died (probably of natural causes), the diadochi quickly split things up and things went to pot. For hundreds of years, rumors circulated that Alexander (who was the son of Zeus) was still alive and still conquering.
Nero held the vast Roman Empire together under a period of economic prosperity. When he died, the empire fell into civil war. Again, for hundreds of years, rumors circulated among his admirers and enemies that Nero (the last son of Aeneas, descendant of Venus, and, to the Christians, the Antichrist) was still alive and would return.
And, of course, there is the story of Jesus, which has all of the elements. He is the son-of-God martyr who was conspired against and murdered. He said a bunch of great quotes and he is rumored to be alive. The story has then been used to mobilize people more people than any other.
These stories show that life is more powerful than death. With death, one can only make one limited statement, which eventually is forgotten. With life, one can have many more tales. This can even be seen in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn. Spock dies to make a powerful ending, but writers realized that Spock resurrected, as ridiculous as it was, was more useful.
Perhaps one day, Americans will believe that a divine Washington is still alive.
posted by American Dilettante at
4:58 PM
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