Text Assignment

Words of Immortality

Writing is often associated with lastingness. As Jan Assmann notes, the state is a mechanism not only for amassing power but also for assuring immortality. Its means include canons, temples, libraries, laws, and schools of reading. – The Marvelous Clouds by John Durham Peters

The following is written in the point of view of my avatar.

I am not much of a long-term thinker. In my line of work, I usually make a quick decision and worry about the what happens after, that is how I am as a person overall. But I also respect immortality. I do not do a lot of writing but the idea of writing something and having that last forever is a strong thought. That is why I completly agree with this quote. First off, the simplicity of is quite fascinating. When you think about it what ever you write can end up lasting forever. Whether you write a law, a story or even an idea. Everyone who writes anything worth reading usually writes drafts. Well, those drafts last forever in a way in that they can evolve. The first thoughts are written and then from that more thoughts can be written and then they can change or grow. Lastingness of writing can also be seen through memories. I did not have much family for that long but when I looked back through the storage of my brief childhood, I found some writing I did for school as a kid. I wasn’t that smart then and I am not that smart now but even the few sentences I deciphered from it I felt the memory, I felt the memory of what I had. That is a way writing can last, from making you think of who you were when you wrote it. It can also go further than that, anything you write can be remembered by other people which can make them think about you and themselves creating a lasting effect of memory.

Writing can also inspire, I am not a religious man myself, all I know is there is a good and I am probably going to have an interesting conversation with him down the road. But I think that because of something that was written thousands of years ago. A writing that created an idea, which created a way a thinking, which created a culture and that is what religion is. These writings of what happened before and what will happen after have been secured through immortality from all the places of worship.

The idea of immortality in writing is a fascinating concept. There are times where I feel alone, depressed and my demons start coming over my shoulder. It is at these times I do feel like I could end it all and think about how I would do it and every time there is always a note involved. I always think of a way to give last words, lasting words that will define me because I will no longer to be able to define myself. Those seem to be the most lasting words of them all, final words. That’s is why some tombstones have a sentiment or a quote on it, so it will live forever along with the memory of the person, and because of that, in a way the person lives though other people’s memories. Alternatively, since anything people write can last forever and have such an impact, that is why people keep living and writing. Maybe the ultimate goal for everyone is to be remembered. Some could seek fame why others just want to be remembered from who they love. In the end, the ability to write something into existence than can be read, reflected upon, enjoyed, or even worshiped may be the reason people write in the first place.