Permanence and Impermanence

One of the defining characteristics of being human is that humans are aware that they will die. Some accept their fate, some avoid thinking about it, and some deny it. But in the end, every human being experiences death. In the epic Gilgamesh, Utnapishtim explains to Gilgamesh that the immortality he is seeking is unattainable: “There is no permanence” (106). The life of a human always leads toward the final stage of death—no one lives forever and all living things grow older every second that they are alive. At first, growth is developmental but then changes into a weakening as time goes by. In the end, everyone is left in the same physical condition of lifelessness. In the poem Orpheus and Eurydice by Ovid, Orpheus speaks to Pluto and Persephone, the rulers of the Underworld, about the nature of life and death: “All things are destined to be yours, and though we delay a while, sooner or later we hasten home.” Eventually, Pluto will rule over all living things because they die and enter his realm.

Although the idea of aging, death, and impermanence is straightforward and simple, many people do not accept it because the idea of not existing is terrifying. In today’s society, people attempt to minimize the idea of impermanence and to establish a sense of permanence, however futile it may be. Plastic surgery, make-up, and facial serums epitomize the yearning for youth, especially in the media. The image of youth on an aging person is praised while early balding and wrinkles are not in favor. Simply, society is obsessed with the idea of being forever young, no matter how unrealistic this idea is.

When humans die, they are physically in a place where wealth, social status, and personal influence have no significance. Utnapishtim tries to illustrate this idea to Gilgamesh: “From the days of old there is no permanence…What is there between the master and the servant when both have fulfilled their doom?” (107). Once life leaves a person’s body, there is no difference between one man and the next. As Hamlet muses in the gravedigger scene in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, all men become dirt or dust, no matter if he is Julius Caesar or Julius Caesar’s slave. Although this is true, a person can live life after death in the extra-physical aspects of life, such as impact, memories, and relationships. The reason why people try and work hard in life is to establish their name so that they are remembered. For some, it may be enough to be loved and missed while others feel that it is their duty to create a positive impact on humanity.

Many people try hard in life because they want to improve their own living conditions or those of others before they die. Ultimately, this is what establishes the meaning of life. The knowledge that death is inevitable in turn creates the awareness of a time limit; each individual has an amount of time to live before death. According to Utnapishtim, “Life and death they allot but the day of death they do not disclose” (107). Even though this time limit is set, no one can know when his time expires. Thus, a sense of urgency to live life to its fullest is present in the mindset of humans. People want to make a difference, create memories, and live comfortably before they die and their opportunity at life is over. Others want to appreciate the pleasures in life while they can. Siduri advices Gilgamesh to focus on the good things in life rather than seeking immortality: “As for you, Gilgamesh, fill your belly with good things; day and night, night and day, dance and be merry, feast and rejoice. Let your clothes be fresh, bathe yourself in water, cherish the little child that holds your hand, and make your wife happy in your embrace; for this too is the lot of man” (102). While death constitutes mortality, so does the meaning of life and appreciation of life’s blessings. A reason why people continue to live, work, and play is simply to experience living.

As mentioned before, people can establish a sense of immortality and eternity through their impact on other individuals or on society. Although Gilgamesh does not physically achieve mortality, his name lives on in the epic that is still read today. Even after his death, we still remember Gilgamesh’s effect on the Sumerians and the tales of his heroic conquests and search for immortality. The sense of eternal life is appealing to people who may have nothing else to live for. In certain religions, eternal life after death is a major part of its belief. Such an idea helps people be more optimistic about death and also influences them in their daily life—if an individual lives a good, moral life and benefits the community, he will be rewarded in the afterlife.

The idea or promise of an afterlife makes the eminent end of death less daunting. As well, those who feel that their lives are satisfactory and have meaning may be more comfortable with their mortality.