To the ears of one possessed by the God of Death, reason and objections seem like so many idle complaints – Chikamatsu Monzaemon
According to the World Health Organisation each year more than 800,000 people end their own lives. This is a rise of over 60% in the past five decades and equates to roughly one suicide every 40 seconds. Ireland is not immune to this epidemic and between 1987 and 1998 suicide figures in Ireland doubled, with men and young people being most at risk. Despite these high figures and the damage suicide causes communities and governments continue to be reluctant to engage with this taboo subject.
Last November philosopher, historian, and poet Jennifer Michael Hecht published ‘Stay: A history of suicide and the philosophies against it’. An already established historian of ideas Jennifer was prompted to explore how societies through the ages have dealt with suicide after two of her friends took their own lives. A brave exploration of a topic so close to home, this book sees Jennifer trace the story of suicide from the ancient world through the Enlightenment and up to modern times; highlighting the philosophies and arguments that have surrounded this ultimate act.
In ancient Greece groups such as the Stoics highlighted the importance of the individual’s responsibilities to society, condemning suicide for the toll the action took on the community. Christianity took up the condemnation of suicide and held the taking of one’s own life as a mortal sin. Jennifer argues that the rise of individualism during the Enlightenment undermined this deterrence against suicide, placing the individual’s right to act before the action’s cost to society. The late 20th century finalised this shift toward the individual with widespread decriminalisation of suicide and attempted suicide.
In ‘Stay’ Jennifer highlights the historical social arguments against suicide; pushing for a return to these community based philosophies and extolling those who are considering taking their own lives to spare society the heavy burden. Join Susan on ‘Talking Books’ as she talks with Jennifer about her book, why she wrote it, and what the impact it has had on her life. Why is it that people take their own lives? How have attitudes to suicide changed through history? Why have the numbers seen such a dramatic increase in the past century? And what can we do to change the growing trend?
If you have been affected by suicide, suicidal thoughts, thoughts of self harm, or wish to learn more about suicide prevention here are links to the Samaritans (116 123) here, 1Life (1800 24 7 100) here, and further reading from the WHO here.
'The Luminaries'
Before this, however, Susan talks with author Eleanor Catton about the book that made her the world’s youngest winner of the Man Booker Prize, at 832 pages it is also the longest Booker winner. Set in her native New Zealand during the height of the gold rush, Eleanor’s epic novel ‘The Luminaries’ follows prospector Walter Moody as he arrives at the settlement of Hokitika on the South Island. Instead of gold, however, Moody finds mystery and intrigue as twelve local men begin to tell him about the series of unsolved crimes that have happened in the settlement.
One of the region’s wealthiest men has disappeared and a prostitute has attempted to end her own life. Adding to the mystery a recent arrival, carrying a drinking problem and opium addiction, seems to have come into possession of a very lucrative gold mine. As the story progresses Moody becomes drawn deeper and deeper into the local mystery as the fates of the characters unfold. ‘The Luminaries’ sees the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island brought vividly alive as Eleanor uses this local tale to tell the history of the 19th century and the West Coast Gold Rush.
In an interesting and innovative move Eleanor Catton uses the signs of the Zodiac and the ancient Seven Heavenly Bodies as a storytelling technique; ascribing their traditional attributes to the characters and storytellers in her book. Join Susan as she journeys with Eleanor to shores of New Zealand in 1866. Why did Eleanor chose to write about the New Zealand gold rush? What is the significance of the arrangement of the stars and planets? And why are they so important to story?
