The Doom and Gift of Men: Stories of Death and the Desire for Immortality

2023-04-01

“Do not fear death, but rather the unlived life. You don't have to live forever. You just have to live.” - Tuck Everlasting In this episode, Rachel and Phoebe explore a variety of stories that explore the desire for immortality, and the challenge of embracing the reality of death. Beginning from perhaps a surprising starting point, the teen fantasy film Tuck Everlasting, we move into the depictions of the temptations to grasp eternal life in J.R.R. Tolkien’s work and in C.S. Lewis’ The Magician’s Nephew. We draw out the parallels ...

“Do not fear death, but rather the unlived life. You don't have to live forever. You just have to live.” - Tuck Everlasting

In this episode, Rachel and Phoebe explore a variety of stories that explore the desire for immortality, and the challenge of embracing the reality of death. Beginning from perhaps a surprising starting point, the teen fantasy film Tuck Everlasting, we move into the depictions of the temptations to grasp eternal life in J.R.R. Tolkien’s work and in C.S. Lewis’ The Magician’s Nephew. We draw out the parallels to the conceptions of unfallen Man in the Bible. We also discuss how we need to embrace the time that is given us, not to grasp on to our youth but to look forward to the future, both in this life and the next.

Music: Ashton Manor by Kevin MacLeod

Hosts: Rachel Sherlock, Phoebe Watson

Follow me on social media: @seekingwatson

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @riskingenchantmentpodcast

Find out more at www.rachelsherlock.com

Works Mentioned

Tuck Everlasting (2002)

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien

Leaf by Niggle by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis