The Lugnagian Journey and the Paradox of Immortality

Arrival and Audience with the King

Following his departure from Maldonada, the narrator arrives at the river of Klomegnik in the kingdom of Lugnak on April 21, 1708. To gain entry, he claims to be Dutch, strategically aligning himself with the only foreigners permitted to enter Japan, his ultimate destination. Upon arrival at the capital, the narrator experiences the kingdom's unique customs, specifically the protocol of "licking the dust before his footstool." This act of submission is described as a literal requirement where visitors must "crawl toward the king on my belly, licking the floor as I advanced." The narrator notes that while this is a sign of respect, the floor is often intentionally sprinkled with dust to humble those considered "a powerful enemy of the court," sometimes to the point where they are unable to speak.

The Discovery of the Strollbrugs

During his three-month stay, the narrator is introduced to the concept of the "Strollbrugs" or "Immortals." He learns that these individuals are marked by a "red circular spot on the forehead" and are destined to never die. Initially, the narrator is overcome with "a sense of incredible delight," viewing the Strollbrugs as a blessing to their nation. He muses that a society with immortal beings would be a "happy nation" free from the "weight and depression of spirit caused by the constant fear of death." He even expresses an intention to advise the King to utilize these immortals as wise counselors.

The Tragic Reality of Endless Life

This romanticized view is quickly shattered by a local gentleman who corrects the narrator's misconceptions. The reality of the Strollbrugs is a harrowing existence of perpetual decay. After the age of thirty, they become "melancholy and dejected," and by eighty, they suffer from the "dreadful idea of never dying." The narrator learns that at ninety, they lose their hair and teeth, lose the ability to taste, and eventually forget the names of their closest relations. Because the language of the country evolves, the Strollbrugs become isolated, living as "foreigners" in their own land.

Ultimately, the narrator describes encountering these beings as the "most horrifying sight I have ever seen." He realizes that their existence is characterized by a "foulness that cannot be described." This profound shift in perspective leads him to conclude that his earlier desire for immortality was shameful, noting, "I would not prefer over such a life" even the most cruel death invented by a tyrant.

Return to England

Following these revelations, the narrator observes that the King himself agrees with the restrictive laws regarding the Strollbrugs, wishing only that he could send a few to other nations to "arm our people against the fear of death." On May 16, 1709, the narrator departs Lugnak for Japan. He eventually secures passage on a Dutch ship, the Amboina, bound for Amsterdam. After a voyage that lasted until April 1710, the narrator finally returns to England, concluding an absence of "five years and six months" to reunite with his family, forever changed by the stark lesson that mortality is not a curse, but a necessary component of the human experience.