BMJ No 7072 Volume 313

Editorial Saturday 21-28 December 1996

Jonathan Swift on immortality: over-rated (1)

One Day in much good Company I was asked by a Person of Quality, whether I had seen any of their Struldbruggs or Immortals. I said I had not, and desired he would explain to me what he meant by such an Appelation applied to a mortal Creature. He told me, that sometimes, though very rarely, a Child happened to be born in a Family with a red circular Spot in the Forehead, directly over the left Eyebrow, which was an infallible Mark that it should never die.

...I could not forbear breaking out into expressions perhaps a little too Extravagant. I cried out as in Rapture; Happy Nation where every Child hath at least a chance of being immortal! Happy People who enjoy so many living Examples of ancient Virtue, and have Masters ready to instruct them in the Wisdom of all former Ages! But, happiest beyond all comparison are those excellent Struldbruggs, who born exempt from that universal Calamity of human Nature, have their minds free and disengaged, without the weight and depression of Spirits caused by the continual Apprehension of Death.

...At last the same Gentleman who had been my Interpreter said, he was desired by the rest to set me right in a few Mistakes... he gave me a particular Account of the Struldbruggs among them. He said they commonly acted like Mortals, till about thirty Years old, after which by degrees they grew melancholy and dejected...When they came to four-score Years, which is reckoned the Extremity of living in this Country, they had not only all the Follies and Infirmities of other old Men, but many more which arose from the dreadful Prospects of never dying.

Reference:

1 Swift J. Travels into several remote nations of the world. Lemuel Gulliver. London: The Bodley Head. 1931:243-51.