Suicide and Melancholy

Editor's Introduction

Suicide and Melancholy is aimed at shedding light on how the melancholic emotions that have been discussed this semester can lead to irreversible actions. Throughout the texts read this semester, there have been several characters that have met a similar fate to the one discussed, although it may not be as direct. There are many circumstances, experiences, and feelings that differ between each of these character’s decision. In each of these works, the action of suicide are explained through symbolism or objects. Authors of these works have experienced addiction, depression, and suicidal ideation, such as Edgar Allen Poe, which is why their works are surrounded upon these topics. These authors can share their struggles and experiences through their creative outlet of writing.

The first artifact that I chose was the laurel leaf from Apollo and Daphne (Kline). Daphne begs to be turned into a laurel tree to escape her threat, Apollo. This death symbolizes how suicide may be seen as a choice to observers, but to the person experiencing the trauma, it feels like the only option at escape. The laurel leaf symbolizes healing and rebirth and were placed on the grave of people following death, symbolizing Daphne’s transition into death. The second artifact that I chose was the narcissus flower from Narcissus and the Echo, The House of Cadmus. Narcissus was so focused on his own longing and own experiences, that he neglected to feed himself, leading to his death and in his place the narcissus flower. The flower is said to be so painfully sweet that it causes madness. Narcissus was so focused on himself that he became mad, leading to his suicide. The third artifact that I chose was Dido’s sword from Aeneid, Book 4. Dido became so obsessed with her love for Aeneas, that she threw herself over his sword. This represents the affects that heartbreak can have on mental illness. The fourth artifact that I chose was the cup of poison from Hamlet. Gertrude takes a sip of the poison form the chalice, killing herself in attempt at saving her son’s life, Hamlet. This form of suicide is in the form of sacrifice. The fifth artifact that I chose was the potion from The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The potion symbolizes how addiction can take over the addict. It shows the amount of control that substance abuse can have over even the seemingly most strong-willed person. The sixth artifact that I chose was the forbidden fruit from “Goblin Market.” This was another case of family sacrificing themselves for family. Lizzie sacrifices herself to save her sister Laura. The last artifact that I chose was the house of Usher from “The Fall of the House of Usher.” The fall of the house killing Roderick and Madeline shows how mental illness can affect an individual more than they are aware of it doing so.

The similarities between these artifacts are that each character was using their object as an escape from the life they were living. The difference between each of these artifacts are that each user was suffering from differing mental illnesses, such as sacrificing themselves for another family member, love melancholy, or addiction.

Each of these artifacts holds some sort of beauty or form of art. The laurel leaf, narcissus flower, and fruit are all symbols of beauty in nature. Dido’s sword was a beautifully crafted, like the house of Usher mansion. The potion was Dr. Jekyll’s greatest creation and scientific discovery. These each hold their own enticing aspects that tempt the fallen character to submit to its temptation.