The true meaning of immortal and the people who made it work
Print Edition
THERE are two definitions of the word “immortal.” The first is, “living for ever; not mortal.” This implies that to be immortal you have to live forever, never dying and never being able to die no matter what. There are many examples of this definition, seeing people fight for what they call “immortality” in TV shows, the Vampire Diaries and the Originals to name a few.
We learn about the struggle for immortality as part of history. In the past, kings and emperors paid alchemists to find a way to be immortal, to rule forever. This is perhaps the “physical” definition of immortal but so far, this appears impossible to achieve. The second definition of immortal is “famous for all time.” This second definition seems to be the only one that we can aim for.
To me, this definition is the one that counts; the one that portrays whether you have made this world better or worse. People that reach this definition are the people that inspire others, for they have worked hard and achieved.
There are many examples. Mahatma Gandhi is known for peacefully protesting for freedom, showing us what can be achieved without violence; Martin Luther King was a leader of the African-American Civil Rights Movement, known best for his famous speech “I have a dream;” and Emmeline Pankhurst, who is better known as Mrs Pankhurst. She was a leader of the suffragette movement in the fight for women’s rights.
To me, it is these people that truly live up to the definition of immortal, for it is their name that has been passed down generations and each name carries its own valuable lesson. This is what makes this world infinitely better and makes them immortal.
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