Beauty in Sucide

Do you ever wonder why it is that no one's collected suicide notes and published them into one work? Is it insensitive to think about? Maybe the loved ones of the person in question would say so, as many people feel misplaced embarrassment when someone they knew fairly well decides to kill themselves.


Still people's last words are usually, in this writers opinion, some of the most simple and most meaningful pieces of prose ever written. And as such, it's a shame that the last words often remembered are not those of the average person but those of a famous figure. This action forever isolates normal human beings from that of the "greats" and those who will be remembered. Which obviously can't help keep them from killing themselves when a very small amount of people are going to remember them in the long run.


Going back to some famous last words we have:

Nicolas-Sebastien Chamfort – French Writer (6 April 1741 – 13 April 1794)

"I, Sebastien-Roch Nicolas de Chamfort, hereby declare my wish to die a free man rather than to continue to live as a slave in a prison. And so I leave this world, where the heart must either break or turn to lead."

George Eastman – Inventor (July 12, 1854 – March 14, 1932)

"To my friends: My work is done. Why wait?"

George Sanders – Actor (1906 – April 25, 1972)

"Dear World, I am leaving you because I am bored. I feel I have lived long enough. I am leaving you with your worries in this sweet cesspool – good luck."

Sara Teasdale – American Poetess (August 8, 1884 – January 29, 1933)

"When I am dead, and over me bright April Shakes out her rain drenched hair, Tho you should lean above me broken hearted, I shall not care. For I shall have peace. As leafey trees are peaceful When rain bends down the bough. And I shall be more silent and cold hearted Than you are now."

Hunter S Thompson- American Writer (July 18, 1937 – February 20, 2005)

"No More Games. No More Bombs. No More Walking. No More Fun. No More Swimming. 67. That is 17 years past 50. 17 more than I needed or wanted. Boring. I am always bitchy. No Fun – for anybody. 67. You are getting Greedy. Act your old age. Relax – This won’t hurt."

Yes most of these people are writers to some extent, but why shouldn't other people's notes be put into place as well. Most people leave a note when they commit or think about committing a suicide. That isn't just a coincidence, and I think that even the most "insignificant" person should get their last words remembered. After all they went to such lengths to be remembered for those words.