Walter Benjamin: 'Death is the sanction of everything the story-teller can tell. He has borrowed his authority from death.'

Death is the sanction of everything the story-teller can tell. He has borrowed his authority from death.

Death is a universal truth that adds weight and significance to the stories we tell. Walter Benjamin's quote, "Death is the sanction of everything the story-teller can tell. He has borrowed his authority from death," holds profound meaning and offers an interesting perspective on storytelling. It suggests that death serves as the ultimate validation for the storyteller, lending their narratives authority and capturing the attention of the audience. By acknowledging the inescapable nature of death, the story gains a deeper sense of purpose.At first glance, Benjamin's quote emphasizes that the storyteller derives their authority from the fact that death is an inherent part of the human experience. Death impacts every individual, shaping their perception of life and influencing the stories they create. Through the power of storytelling, the storyteller offers a glimpse into the human condition, reminding us of the fragility of life and the fleeting nature of our existence. By lending their voice to the stories surrounding death, the storyteller becomes a conduit for understanding and confronting our mortality.In a straightforward interpretation, Benjamin's quote suggests that the storyteller's authority lies in their ability to weave narratives that explore and grapple with the theme of death. This idea aligns with the historical tradition of storytelling, where tales often revolve around life's brevity and the inevitable end. From myths and folklore to modern literature, stories have always served as a means to communicate existential truths and universal themes related to death and mortality.However, to bring a surprising twist to this discussion, let us introduce the concept of eternalism. Eternalism is a philosophical viewpoint that challenges our conventional understanding of time and suggests that the past, present, and future all exist simultaneously. While this may seem abstract and conflicting with the idea of death, it also opens up intriguing possibilities for storytelling.An eternalist perspective raises the question of whether death truly has the final say in the authority of a storyteller. According to eternalism, the story and the storyteller are not bound solely by the limitations of the present moment. Instead, they transcend temporal boundaries, allowing the narratives to persist and resonate beyond the constraints of individual lives. In this context, death does not necessarily sanction what the storyteller can tell. Instead, it becomes one of many narrative elements, shaping the story's arc rather than determining its ultimate authority.By introducing the concept of eternalism, we can consider an alternative viewpoint. Perhaps death, as a concept and thematic presence, may serve as a metaphorical manifestation rather than a concrete endpoint. It becomes a tool that the storyteller employs to create tension, evoke emotions, and explore the richness of the human experience. In this interpretation, the storyteller's authority lies not in their connection to death itself, but in their ability to navigate the complexities of mortality and use it as a narrative device.In conclusion, Walter Benjamin's quote highlights the significance of death in storytelling, emphasizing the storyteller's authority derived from their exploration of mortality. It speaks to the universal nature of death and its impact on the stories we tell. However, by introducing the concept of eternalism, we can challenge the notion of death solely sanctioning the storyteller's authority. Instead, eternalism allows us to consider death as a narrative device, shaping the story's content and meaning while leaving room for expansive interpretations. Ultimately, Benjamin's quote invites us to contemplate the deep interplay between death, storytelling, and the eternal nature of narratives.