Interstellar, Major Tom, and The Giver

I'm currently listening to the song "Major Tom" by Shiny Toy Guns. The song is so reminiscent of Interstellar it makes me wonder whether or not Christopher Nolan didn't take the idea from the song. In any case, the similarities are positive aspects of both song and film. In both stories, it seems that the protagonists die and go to some sort of heaven-space, in which they are finally "home."

 The same thing happens in The Giver, by Lois Lowry. The book is an excellent exploration of what a world would be like with no pain and sorrow, but also a world with no pleasure and joy. The hero finally leaves his temporary "paradise" of innocence and learns about all of the pains and joys of past humans. Finally, at the end of the book, after his induction into mortality, he ends up in a cottage in which he seems to be able to feel the feeling of "Home."

Now that I'm thinking about it, the same thing happens in Lord of the Rings; there is no way Samwise and Frodo could have made it out of that horrible volcano: they had to have died there. The eagles are just angels! Why didn't I see it sooner?

But yes, all of these texts have a common theme: passing through an ordeal and passing on into a heavenly state. Also, in all of these novels and movies and books and songs which have this same theme, it is always ambiguous: Did the hero really die?

For me, I don't equate dying with death. I would much sooner equate this life with death than going into a world where you will live forevermore, and never face death again. Whether you believe in a heaven or not, all of our really challenging struggles are here on Earth. Earth is a much more dead place than the forever-after peace.