Mortality and Immortality in City of the Plague God

Thematic Claim: Mortality as Meaning, Immortality as Sickness

City of the Plague God builds on the ancient question from the Epic of Gilgamesh: “Whatever he may achieve, it is only wind.” Sarwat Chadda’s novel argues that mortality supplies life with urgency, purpose, and love, while immortality—when severed from human connection—becomes a corrosive sickness. The story traces this idea through the Flower of Immortality, the decaying god Nergal, and the protagonist Sikander Aziz’s reluctant immortality.

1. The Burden of Living Forever: Gilgamesh’s Warning

The prologue’s epigraph immediately frames human existence as finite. When Sikander Aziz learns that he accidentally became immortal after touching a descendant of the Flower of Immortality, he worries about the consequences. His brother Mo, already dead, notes that “you’ve cheated death, and that has consequences” (chapter 28). Sik’s immortality is not a gift—it isolates him from normal life and forces him to confront threats that ordinary kids never face. The goddesses Ishtar and Erishkigal explain that the original flower still grows in the Sea of Tiamat, a place where even gods would dissolve. This underscores that immortality belongs to a realm outside the mortal order, and accessing it requires a perilous journey that mirrors Gilgamesh’s own quest. The Flower of Immortality symbolises both the dream of eternal life and the heavy cost of achieving it.

2. Nergal’s Decay: The Plague God’s Hollow Existence

Belet’s uncle Nergal appears as a monstrous, fly‑shrouded god who has devoured the Flower of Immortality. Yet he is sick, lonely, and wandering in mind. In chapter 19 (evidence from chapter 20 of the book), Nergal devours one of his own demons, and Sik feels a brief pity: “He was old, sick, and lonely, his mind wandering to long‑faded days of glory.” The plague god feeds on human hatred, but that sustenance cannot fill the void left by his isolation. When Belet strikes him with the Kasusu—a weapon that can harm even gods—the immortal Nergal starts to die. His skin wrinkles, his wings molt, and he pleads for “just one more minute” (chapter 40). The cure for his immortality is Mo’s Promise, the diluted flower essence in the rain. Chadda inverts the typical fantasy: the immortal being is relieved of his curse, not granted one. Immortality here is a sickness that cuts its bearer off from death’s natural meaning.

3. Mo’s Sacrifice and the Value of a Finite Life

Sik’s older brother Mo Aziz died in a motorcycle accident two years before the story begins. His death haunts Sik, yet Mo’s spirit returns as a guide. Mo never sought immortality; he gave his life protecting others. The Mo’s Promise—the flower‑infused water that Sik uses to heal the city—directly stems from the love and sacrifice of a mortal. In the author’s note, Chadda explains that Sik’s jihad is a personal struggle to protect family, not a quest for endless life. The novel ends with the deli renamed “Mo’s,” a place of comfort and belonging (chapter 41). Mortality makes every moment count; Mo’s brief life left a legacy that no eternal god could match.

Complexity and Contradiction

The book does not present mortality as a simple blessing. Sik’s parents fall into comas, and the city suffers from plague. Death is a real, painful antagonist. Yet the story also shows that eternal existence without connection is a form of death. Nergal’s last moments reveal a being consumed by fear of ending—a fear mortals learn to face. The Lamassu guardians, ancient protective spirits, also embody the tension: they are immortal yet bound to defend the mortal world. The theme ultimately affirms that loving and losing are preferable to a hollow forever.

Study Questions and Answers

1. How does the prologue’s quotation from The Epic of Gilgamesh establish the novel’s stance on mortality?
   The epigraph asks, “Do you fear death on this occasion? / Where is the strength of your heroic nature?” It implies that acknowledging mortality is the foundation of heroism. Sik repeatedly risks his life for others, proving that courage arises from the knowledge that life is short.

2. In what ways does Nergal’s immortality make him weaker rather than stronger?
   Nergal is described as “old, sick, and lonely.” He cannot heal properly, his mind wanders, and he must feed on hatred and even his own demons. His immortality has decayed his body and soul, making him vulnerable to Belet’s attack and the “cure” of Mo’s Promise.

3. Why does the Flower of Immortality fail to bring happiness to anyone in the story?
   The flower gives eternal life but isolates its bearer. Gilgamesh lost his flower to a snake; Sik’s accidental immortality brings him danger and separation from normal life; Nergal’s consumption of the flower leaves him hollow. The only successful use is the diluted version (Mo’s Promise) that cures the plague, not grants eternal life.

4. How does Mo’s death drive the plot toward a message about living fully?
   Mo’s motorcycle accident is the catalyst for Sik’s grief and his entry into the magical world. Mo’s ghost guides Sik to the flower, and his memory inspires the family to rename the deli after him. The narrative shows that a finite, well‑lived life can resonate far beyond its end.

5. What does the author’s note reveal about Chadda’s view of mortality in the context of the COVID‑19 pandemic?
   Chadda writes that “the only thing that truly matters is keeping our loved ones safe.” He wrote the book before the pandemic, yet the fictional plague echoes real‑world threats. His note confirms that the novel’s central theme is not fear of death but the value of protecting what is mortal and precious.