Tithonus, Mandela and God
Published: 26 June 2013 By Abiodun Giwa
Nelson Mandela
At the end of the day, it will come down to members of the family; just like the British Broadcasting Corporation has reported on its website that Nelson Mandela’s family members have started meeting. It is on their table that the bucks will stop, and next to them is the South African government.
Apparently, no family wants to lose a member, no matter the age. It is about love and emotion. But when the chips are down, the reality cannot be challenged. The resort will then be to the Christians' prayer that “Oh Lord, let thy will be done." And today, the world is waiting on the Lord for his will in the life of one single person who has experienced travails, conquered the vicissitudes and in whom many believe death no longer has power.
People have been keeping vigil in front of the hospital, where Mandela has been hospitalized since June 8, for recurring case of lung infection. Prayers are said and doves are released. President Jacob Zuma had appealed to South Africans that the country’s elder Statesman’s health had deteriorated, but they should continue to pray for him. Some reports said he had been sleeping for a couple of days. President Zuma said the doctors have been trying their best to make the former president comfortable. A man of 94 years is being made comfortable in the bowel of a hospital. The truth, which President Zuma spoke in the form of a parable, was that the doctors were working, fighting and struggling to keep Mandela alive.
When a person is rushed into a hospital, such is never for comfort. The home is where there is comfort. And when a man is taken in an ambulance through a road in 6 degrees of cold weather; the ambulance breaks down and another ambulance summoned for the journey, it must be for a life threatening reason and not comfort. Some say that Mandela be released and others say they want him to continue to be here. Those who say they want him released charge those who want him remain here of unnecessarily punishing him. It is this that brings to mind Alfred Lord Tennyson’s “Tithonus,” who had the gift old age, but lacked that of youthfulness. Tithonus was a prince kidnapped from the palace by Aurora, to be in her court. The difference between Mandela and Tithonus is that Mandela is a freedom fighter, whose life consists of journeys to jail in a long fight for freedom for his people from the bondage of apartheid.
And with his own life, Mandela has given a wake up call to the South African government for the need to pay attention to vehicles in its ambulatory service. If an ambulance carrying Mandela could break down on a journey to a hospital, one can imagine what would happen to an ordinary mortal employing the same service. Lets get back to Tithonus and Mandela.
One easy interpretation of Tithonus is that no one can have old age and youthfulness at the same time. As one grows old, one sheds the garment of youthfulness. And as with Tithonus, when the wrinkles of old age set in, the wish to shed the earthly world's garb would be more than a desire. It was why Tithonus looked at Aurora and saw the youthfulness that was no longer in him, and asked to be released to join the happy men that have the power to die. He wanted to be restored to the ground and forget the earthly courts.
Old age, in Aurora’s words, is a gift that cannot be taken away. And when immortality - growing old eternally becomes cruelty – and one cannot turn back and gain youthfulness, the only road accessible is to leave this world. It is at this level that death loses its potency, like in John Donne’s words, death is no longer dreadful and mighty. Old people have no fear of death; they look forward to it. The only power they lack is choosing the day they want to go. They are loved by the family and wants to have them around all the time. But go, they must, on God's appointed date that no one has a clue.
Just as it is in Tithonus’ case and all old people, so it is in Mandela’s case. Mandela’s family, South Africans and the world are waiting on God for Mandela, whom some in the world want to have here eternally.
Apparently, no family wants to lose a member, no matter the age. It is about love and emotion. But when the chips are down, the reality cannot be challenged. The resort will then be to the Christians' prayer that “Oh Lord, let thy will be done." And today, the world is waiting on the Lord for his will in the life of one single person who has experienced travails, conquered the vicissitudes and in whom many believe death no longer has power.
People have been keeping vigil in front of the hospital, where Mandela has been hospitalized since June 8, for recurring case of lung infection. Prayers are said and doves are released. President Jacob Zuma had appealed to South Africans that the country’s elder Statesman’s health had deteriorated, but they should continue to pray for him. Some reports said he had been sleeping for a couple of days. President Zuma said the doctors have been trying their best to make the former president comfortable. A man of 94 years is being made comfortable in the bowel of a hospital. The truth, which President Zuma spoke in the form of a parable, was that the doctors were working, fighting and struggling to keep Mandela alive.
When a person is rushed into a hospital, such is never for comfort. The home is where there is comfort. And when a man is taken in an ambulance through a road in 6 degrees of cold weather; the ambulance breaks down and another ambulance summoned for the journey, it must be for a life threatening reason and not comfort. Some say that Mandela be released and others say they want him to continue to be here. Those who say they want him released charge those who want him remain here of unnecessarily punishing him. It is this that brings to mind Alfred Lord Tennyson’s “Tithonus,” who had the gift old age, but lacked that of youthfulness. Tithonus was a prince kidnapped from the palace by Aurora, to be in her court. The difference between Mandela and Tithonus is that Mandela is a freedom fighter, whose life consists of journeys to jail in a long fight for freedom for his people from the bondage of apartheid.
And with his own life, Mandela has given a wake up call to the South African government for the need to pay attention to vehicles in its ambulatory service. If an ambulance carrying Mandela could break down on a journey to a hospital, one can imagine what would happen to an ordinary mortal employing the same service. Lets get back to Tithonus and Mandela.
One easy interpretation of Tithonus is that no one can have old age and youthfulness at the same time. As one grows old, one sheds the garment of youthfulness. And as with Tithonus, when the wrinkles of old age set in, the wish to shed the earthly world's garb would be more than a desire. It was why Tithonus looked at Aurora and saw the youthfulness that was no longer in him, and asked to be released to join the happy men that have the power to die. He wanted to be restored to the ground and forget the earthly courts.
Old age, in Aurora’s words, is a gift that cannot be taken away. And when immortality - growing old eternally becomes cruelty – and one cannot turn back and gain youthfulness, the only road accessible is to leave this world. It is at this level that death loses its potency, like in John Donne’s words, death is no longer dreadful and mighty. Old people have no fear of death; they look forward to it. The only power they lack is choosing the day they want to go. They are loved by the family and wants to have them around all the time. But go, they must, on God's appointed date that no one has a clue.
Just as it is in Tithonus’ case and all old people, so it is in Mandela’s case. Mandela’s family, South Africans and the world are waiting on God for Mandela, whom some in the world want to have here eternally.
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