Part I - The Story of The Man Who Did Not Wish To Die

I'm visiting 'The Man Who Did Not Wish To Die,' a Japanese fairy tale by Yei Theodora Ozaki. This story follows Santaro, who, realizing the shortness of life, embarks on a quest to discover the secret to perpetual existence. The central question the narrative poses is whether the desire for eternal life can be reconciled with true human comfort and freedom.

I use this journey through myth to explore a personal memory from my early twenties in India, where I grappled with my own uncertain future. By weaving narratives of eternal life and immediate financial constraints together, I reflect on the complex themes of defining success, and the unhappiness that can reside even within apparent prosperity.