Mortality, in its simplest definition, means the state of being mortal or destined to die.
Heart disease and cancer are the leading cause of mortality in the United States for more than a
decade. The two conditions claim about 46 percent of all deaths in the country. This paper looks
at mortality, as seen by Christopher Hitchens in his memoir titled Mortality. The memoir was
published in 2012 and features seven essays and eight unfinished essays describing Hitchens'
struggles with esophageal cancer. Hitchens was diagnosed with the condition during his 2010
book tour, and the disease killed him a year later in 2011. Throughout his memoir, Hitchens
evaluates some of the experiences, thoughts, feelings, and expressions that take on new meaning
during his time with esophageal cancer. Two such reevaluations are of communication and
stages of death, as highlighted by Kübler-Ross. Hitchens explores the idea of communication by
showing us how important it the day his condition took away his voice. He also discusses all the
stages of death, one after another.
The memoir begins with a short description of the events preceding Hitchens’ diagnosis
with esophageal cancer. He says that he ever woke up feeling like death for more than once and
he took it casually. He says, “but nothing prepared me for the early morning of June when I came
to consciousness feeling as if I were actually shackled to my own corpse" (Hitchens p 1). By this
he meant that even though there were clear signs, it never dawned to him that he was to be diagnosed with a terminal illness and that he had only a limited time to live. Hitchens goes on to
describe how he felt in his chest saying it was as if “the cave of his chest and thorax was
hallowed out and filled with slow-drying cement”. (Hitchens p 1). The ordeal took place at a
hotel in New York and this was a day after a successful day when he launched his new book
(Hitchens p 2). From the diagnosis, it is evident that Hitchens is going to die sooner or later and
this becomes part of his life. However, although he later accepts his condition, he is a bit
uncomfortable when people tell stories of their relatives or friends who survived the disease.
Eventually, Hitchens resolves that whenever people ask him how he is doing, he would either tell
the truth or crack jokes about it. Mortality by Christopher Hitchens
What does not kill you makes you stronger is just but a cliché to people like him with
terminal cancer illness. As he pointed out that a patient of terminal illness like cancer can beat it
for some time but if it is in the final stage, it will eventually beat them (Hitchens p 55). He agrees
that every patient requires encouragement from friends and family. However, he believes that
kind words would not change the fact that they fighting a terminal illness. By this he meant, kind
words are good but they do not change anything but give a patient false hope. In this memoir,
Hitchens is seen to have remained loyal to atheism despite being told that he would end up in
hell after death.
Hitchens then talks about