No knows what the future holds, but what if life in 2140 really does turn out to be as Malley describes? Would you want to live forever? In my opinion, although I can see why immortality is so appealing, my honest answer to that question is no.
Of course it would be tempting to never have to face the prospect of dying - even now, I wonder what happens in the after;ife (supposing it actually exists). Does the body just shut down completely? And if it does, how is that possible? How can a whole mind, a library of thoguhts and memories, a whole person disappear just like that? Does the soul live on? Is there a Heaven and a Hell? I think I can safely say many people would welcome Longevity, if only to avoid these terrifying potential situations, and to give their mind a moment's rest.
But while I can see the benefits of being protected from all life threatening diseases, never having to cope with the loss of a loved one, feeling safer now only older generations have been left on the earth and crime levels have gone down, never having to see another person under the age ten again - I've never been a fan of little children - there's a part of me which can't help but question whether the utopia depicted in The Declaration is really all that great.For one, Longevity doesn't guarantee lifelong youth - Anna says of Mrs Sharpe: "her skin sagged disconsolately around her frame, hanging off her flesh as if it were waterlogged or had simply lost the will to hold itself up any longer" - and I think I speak for the antion - a self conscious one at that - when I say having the repulsing sight of my saggy body would do nothing for my self esteem.
Futhermore, I can't help thinking the world Malley has created seems like a nanny state gone mad, a Big Brother-esque environment where every move is watched, where everything you do, every choice you make is laid out for you by the restricting rules set by the Authorities. The no children rule screams out "control freak" and being a creative person, I can't imagine a world without colour, where "flowers [are] an Indulgence and frowned upon by the Authorities". Thus certainly gives the impression of much bleaker, greyer world, where self expression and diversity is pretty much non existent.The Authorities behave appallingly throughout the book. Being the main supplier of the Longevity drug, theyfeed on the nation's fear of death and use it to manipulate people. Even poor Mrs Sharpe, who was brave enough to help runaway Surpluses Anna and Peter, was forced to agree to betray for the sake of having her supply of the drug cut off. And I'd hate to think how I would react of the Catchers came into my home and threatened to cut my finger off.
As I've said before, I'm not a big fan of children, but that doesn't mean to say I have no compassion. The way the Surpluses at Grange Hall are treated is unacceptable. How can Mrs Pincent and the other adults there justify their actions?
Of course, everyone is given the option to Opt Out of Longevity, but those who do become pariahs. When it comes to the crunch, I don't think I would be one of those people who enjoy being immortal. I suppose I'd like the cowardly idea of conquering death, but eventually, the novelty would wear off, and I'd lose interest in my monotonous life altogether, becoming severely depressed at the sight of my hideous appearance, and who knows? I might develop a maternal instinct later in life, become broody, and wish I could have my own family. As stated in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, death would be "the next adventure" and be "like going to sleep at the end of a very long day". And as Anna says: "But Mother Nature likes new things, doesn't she? Old leaves fall off trees, don't they? Why should the old humans stay and the new ones not be allowed? It that really what Mother Nature wants?"
However, the sad fact is, I don't think I'd be brave enough to Opt Out; I'd be swayed by Peer Pressure. I'd find it difficult to cope with deterioration, especially when those perfect faces around me watch with disapproving eyes, like statues, always the same. Futhermore, I guess it would be pretty lonely up there in heaven (or hell).Malley says Longevity is created in 2030, which is not too far from now (in the long run, at least), so it will be interesting to see how the future pans out. Only time can tell, and as they say - whoever they"are - que sera sera - whatever will be, will be.
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