The Nearly Departed: Inside the Art of Writing a Great Obituary
What’s next? What happens after you die? It’s one question I’ve never asked when interviewing the scores of nearly-departed people I’ve profiled for advance obituaries in The New York Times. The answer is ineffable. But would the response, however hypothetical,
The concept of what lies beyond the veil of death remains a mystery, yet it fuels our reflections on the worth of our earthly lives. The nearly-departed, those who've pondered their eventual demise, offer a unique perspective on the human condition. Ann Wroe, the obituary editor of The Economist, believes that the essence of a person transcends mere chronological facts and figures, encompassing their core being.
This notion drives the art of writing a great obituary, capturing the individual's unique identity beyond the usual details.
The ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead serves as a roadmap to the afterlife, illustrating the significance placed on eternal existence. In modern times, works like Natalie Babbitt's "Tuck Everlasting" explore the implications of immortality, revealing the potential for boredom, sadness, and loneliness. The fear of death, whether religious or existential, has led to the development of various belief systems and philosophical inquiries.
From Woody Allen's desire to achieve immortality through his own existence rather than through his works, to Christopher Hitchens' defeatist view of eternal life, individuals grapple with the idea of an afterlife. Some, like Hitchens, firmly reject the notion of an eternal existence, while others remain agnostic. The German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer proposed a simplistic view, stating that after death, one returns to the state prior to birth.
Scientific inquiry into life after death remains elusive, with theories ranging from spiritual awakenings to cryogenics and brainwave uploads. The possibility of post-mortem communication has even been explored, yet remains unverified. Despite these uncertainties, the human desire to leave a lasting legacy persists. Mark Twain, aware of his potential afterlife impact, sought to influence the way he would be remembered through his own words, emphasizing the power of language and the importance of accurate representation in obituaries.
An obituary, ultimately, is a brief biography, capturing the essence of a person's life and revealing their passions, achievements, and challenges. It is crucial for obituaries to be crafted with care, ensuring that they accurately reflect the subject's legacy and do not become a tool for posthumous judgment.
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