On Suicide

On Suicide

The judicial consequences of suicide in Britain during the Victorian era.

The essay shown in these items discusses suicide in England during the Victorian era, describing it as a common occurrence that is caused by a general "moral madness." The majority of the article discusses the legal consequences of suicide, and how a court or jury should decide in cases of suicide, since it is a form of killing, which is illegal. The author settles on the decision that, if, in cases of suicide, all of the money and possessions of the person involved be taken from the family, and given back to the government, suicides would occur less often. Furthermore, the author relays his support for the custom in which people who have died by suicide are buried in the highway in an unholy way. This relates to Thomas Hardy's short story, "Alicia's Diary," because, at the end of the story when Charles is found dead in a questionable manner, Alicia believes his death to be a suicide, whereas everyone else, including the court rules his death as an accident. Although there seems to be evidence that he killed himself, everyone is quick to say that this was not the case. I believe this could be because of the idea that if Charles' death was known to be a suicide, he would not have had an honorable burial, and his belongings potentially could have been taken away from his family, Alicia, and Caroline. Moreover, there would have been shame cast on Caroline and the rest of Charles' family because he died in such a way. This essay directly relates to "Alicia's Diary," and also speaks to attitudes about mental illness, grief, and suicide during the Victorian era.

Unknown

19th Century Periodicals. Series I and II: Accessed through the New York Public Library

The Lady's Monthly Museum

December 1st, 1810

British Library

Essay