To Live and Let Live?

You have just found yourself in a room where just moments before, a stranger has decided to take their own life with the aid of sleeping pills. They have left a note which reads, "I have seen a world ever consumed by darkness, and my soul cannot bear another moment. I am happier in eternal rest. Do not mourn my passing, mourn a world which has driven me to this." After reading the notes, you hear a shallow breath release, without another inhale. Are you morally obligated to attempt to save this persons life? What if this is someone you know? Are emotionally attached to?

Cormac McCarthy's The Sunset Limited debates this by saving a suicidal man consumed with darkness, with a deeply spiritual man, who only desires the light. Throughout the play, there are many philosophical quandaries put forth, but the one that underlines the whole work is whether Black should have halted White's leap into the ever-after. This is a question that society has dealt with on many occasions, most famously during the practices of Dr. Jack Kavorkian, and the reason we are destined to eternally revisit this situation, is that there is so happy/sure answer.

Once Black returns with the visibly shaken and irritable White to Black's apartment, Black sets out to determine what would drive a man to jump into an oncoming train. White's initial main goal is to say what he needs to say, to race back and attempt his jump again.  Black asks general questions about White's decision. "Are you okay? Did you sleep last night?", "When did you decided that today was the day? Was they somthin special about it?". White responds very straight forward, without hesitation. "No." to whether he had slept, and "No. Well. Today is my birthday. But I certainly don't regard that as special." White's responses are very telling of a man who has not only thought out his intentions, but has come to terms with them. One could argue that the "No. Well." is a hesitation, but would it not also be the answer someone gives who truly sees no significance in their birth date? Where most of the world celebrates the passing of another year, and the importance of age, here stands a man who pays it no reverence, and thinks little of it.

After a quick foray into idle back and forth, mostly played out so Black can keep White around for a little while longer, the gentlemen begin to debate many topics. Religion is a major one, with Black being devout due to his station in life. They also discuss whether life has meaning, how  God could leave the world in such a shambled state, and what past and life the two men have had to lead them to this moment. At some points, Black's optimistic world view seems to be winning out. Maybe all it takes is a nice bowl of chili, and the words of a kind stranger to alter the path of darkness one can be set upon. 

Eventually, White's world view is revealed, "You give up the world line by line. Stoically. And then one day you realize that your courage is farcical. It doesn't mean anything. You've become an accomplice in your own annihilation and there is nothing you can do about it. Everything you do closes a door somewhere ahead of you. And finally there is only one door left." Black quickly adds, "That's a dark world, Professor." This is the crux of the argument. Nothing in the play leads the reader to believe that White sees the world any different. Black is correct, this is a dark world view, and it also provides a logic, however twisted, to attempting suicide. If one accepts the world to be such a dark place, and see death as the only eventuality, why not let them seek it if it would bring them peace?

Suicide is an uncomfortable idea that many people toy with. Somedays, it would be easier to just not have to wake up, and continue through the humdrum existence that can be life. What pushes most of us through those days, is pausing to reflect that those feelings are rarely permanent, and ultimately making it through the shit can often lead to a happier tomorrow. Yet, some must find those thoughts quite permanent. They experience a nightmarish world in which death is the only thing that can bring them peace. Drugs may or may not help, the same goes for therapy. Some people just reach a zenith of darkness which cannot be overcome. Preventing their rest almost seems a cruelty.

This is not to say that depression/suicide is not a problem. It should always be handled with care, and those who face it should have others they can seek out for assistance. For those who have sought all other alternatives; the one's who would be truly happier not seeing another tomorrow, the world should aim for acceptance. It is a harsh place sometimes. Keeping one prisoner in one's own mind is horrible. Some people want to die, and maybe, we should let them.

Works Cited:

McCarthy, Cormac. The Sunset Limited. 2010.