The natural end of every human life is death. Some
people, for reasons that have never been fully understood,
choose to end their own lives. This is called suicide, which
means literally 'self-killing.' For all the uncertainty
that has surrounded the phenomenon of suicide, his
assessment of the problem is probably as accurate as any.
The individual, in seemingly hopeless conflict with the
world, decides to end his or her existence in what amounts
to a final assault against a society that can no longer be
tolerated. In so doing, the person tries to obtain a final
revenge on everything and everyone that have caused their
feelings of depression.
Sometimes suicide has been used as a form of execution.
Perhaps the most famous such case is that of the philosopher
Socrates, who was required to drink hemlock to end his life
in 399 BC, after being found guilty of corrupting the youth
of Athens.
Abduction of Europe
Europe Simulator
Sylvia PlathIn the 20th century the German general Erwin
Rommel took poison rather than be executed for his role in a
plot to oust Adolf Hitler from office.
In some societies suicide has had social ties. In Japan,
for example, the customs and rules of one's class have
demanded suicide under certain circumstances. Called seppuku
or popularly known as hara-kiri, which means 'self-
disembowelment' it has long been viewed as an honorable
method of taking one's life. It was used by warriors after
losing a battle to avoid the dishonor of defeat. Seppuku was
also used as a means of capital punishment to spare warriors
the disgrace of execution. In India, widows allowed
themselves to be burned to death on their husband's funeral
pyre, a practice called suttee.
At least since the 18th century, suicide has been thought
of by some as a romantic type of death.