How sad for her family and very selfish on her part
It is sad, but I can't agree that it's selfish. If her depths of despair were so terrible, who are we--you, me, or her family--to decide that she
must abide on this earth? How is it
not our decision whether we live or die, and when your life is at question, who's happiness should be of first consideration? Shakespeare has words that ring true for me, from
King Lear:
KING LEAR
And my poor fool is hang'd! No, no, no life!
Why should a dog, a horse, a rat, have life,
And thou no breath at all? Thou'lt come no more,
Never, never, never, never, never!
Pray you, undo this button: thank you, sir.
Do you see this? Look on her, look, her lips,
Look there, look there!
Dies
EDGAR
He faints! My lord, my lord!
KENT
Break, heart; I prithee, break!
EDGAR
Look up, my lord.
KENT
Vex not his ghost: O, let him pass! he hates him much
That would upon the rack of this tough world
Stretch him out longer.EDGAR
He is gone, indeed.
KENT
The wonder is, he hath endured so long:
He but usurp'd his life.---King Lear, Act V, scene ii
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There is a point, I think, where the living should consider their own selfishness in insisting that anyone else continue living in spite of their own wishes. It comes down to who is the ultimate owner of a life--you, who are living it, or others you know. I choose to believe that I am the unchallenged steward of my own continued existence.
That said, I must say that from the point of view of those of us much older than 21, she
did make a terrible mistake. Who of us much older than that believes problems are insoluable when so young, with all of life stretched out in front of us? The idea of committing suicide because of unemployment at so young an age is plain ridiculous to someone of my age. So much is correctable when so young.
I'll admit I've known these depths of despair at times in the past in my life, and the temptation to do as she did was strong. I know the only thing that stopped me was simple fear of dying. I can't judge anyone who takes the other fork. The plain truth is it takes a great deal of guts to overcome the animal urge of self-preservation and willingly end your existence.
