2 Modern Examples of Attempting to Earn Figurative Immortality

[Nathan A. Kirkpatrick]

Even though 4000 years have passed since Gilgamesh, many in society
are still in pursuit of immortality. While many accept that it is not
possible to extended organic human life forever, as a culture, we
still have our own means of attempting to ensure that our names, our
lives, and our legends live on.

For some, this is pursued through the obvious example of materialism.
For critics of materialism, they point to a current obsession in
America with wealth, fame, beauty, power, et cetera. Despite the fact
that these people may differ on the details of an ideal state of
living, they feel that too much emphasis is placed on things that
don't matter, believing only that which lasts forever can have
meaning. It is ironic, for one cannot take all that he accumulates in
life with him when he dies. Yet the money is power, and in forms of
corporations or governments, allows them to exert an influence in
something that will have a lifespan far surpassing that of one
individual. Money can and can't buy immortality, today's legends will
someday be only a encyclopedia entry about "some dead rich person".

The idea of family, and specifically children is another way in which
people try to achieve lasting fame. From the time a child is born,
people close to the family will compare them to the parent's. The
parents beam with pleasure and describe how their children resemble
that from which they came. But the problem with this approach is when
parents attempt to live through their children, as can be evidently
seen by parents of Hollywood child stars, overbearing Little League
parents, and so forth.

Many hope that their children will achieve great things, as they well
should, but the line of personal identity and independence is an
important one. As such, the older a child gets and the more she begins
to think on her own, the harder it can be to see yourself in her. The
ability to define yourself through your children is somewhat changed,
you can still be proud of their accomplishments, but it doesn't feel
like it IS you accomplishing it. Because of this children are a flawed
way to attempt to earn legendary status, because whatever they
accomplish, the parents can only receive partial credit at most.

Neither of these things is inherently good nor bad. As is often, if
not always the case, the circumstances dictate everything. However, I
feel that these are two good examples of how people in modern society
attempt to earn at least a figurative immortality.