Immortality, which seems like it might be something of a blessing, is often portrayed in books and movies as an abject curse.
From Tuck Everlasting‘s accidentally immortal family, unhappily traipsing through time…
to Wild Seed‘s crazily intense power-play between two African immortals: Doro, a shape-shifting, seemingly evil male and Anyanwu, the quietly wise woman who tragically loves him through the eons…
to Oscar Wilde’s brilliant cautionary classic of unchecked immortal hubris that leads to self-destruction…
to the spellbinding tale of a gorgeous immortal couple implausibly tainted by decidedly mortal problems…
to the story of sword-wielding immortals who must duel each other to the death, because only one of them can be immortal.
The exception to the “miserable immortals” rule is this book.
It is a joyous, sexy romp through the ages with deposed King Alobar and his lady love, Kudra, master of dance and perfumes. Together (along with the goat-god Pan) they travel the world in search of the guardian of a flask containing a mysterious beet-extract elixir which holds the secret to their continued everlasting life.
Tom Robbins has crafted the only story of immortality that I’ve ever encountered that has a delightful end (and the beginning and middle are equally wonderful). These immortals laugh, play, and make highly erotic, gymnastic, deeply passionate love.
To me, that sounds like a much better way to spend eternity.
Here are a couple ditties about immortality:
“Immortality” by Pearl Jam
“Eternal Life” by Jeff Buckley
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cU97rdGYbBI&feature=related
Following are links for those interested in the books and movies mentioned above:
