Is Suicide The Death Of An Author?

Okay, I don't mean it in a literal sense *of course* But I recently had a little debate with somebody that tried to tell me ALL writers/poets that kill themselves (Hunter S. Thompson, Hemingway, Sylvia Plath, etc.) are ultimately worthless. That nobody will ever take a suicide's work all that seriously. WTF?

I mean, I am bothered by this for a couple of reasons: So if a great rock star like Kurt Cobain offs himself (and I DO think of him as a really great artist), most people will call it a tragedy, but keep on buying his music big time? I've actually only heard one or two (more foolish ones) actually call Kurt a loser cuz he killed himself. Most of his fans still consider him a kind of God or something.

And the same thing goes for Van Gogh (the great painter). Yet he took his own life. So if you're a singer or painter, most people will forgive you for killing yourself. But if you're a poet or writer, then YOU and your work are suddenly worthless? I just don't understand this. I mean, would you totally avoid the work of an author if somebody told you that he/she had taken their own life? And can you tell me why?

Peace,

PD

 

I agree


Art is art, if anything the writer's death gives it more worth.
That and the work obviously had value beforehand, so surely that can't be negated.
There is far too much evidence to the contray for that argument to hold weight.

I would still read their work. If only out of morbid curiosity, hoping for an insight into their troubled mind.

 

Your friend is quite OBVIOUSLY confused. Melville is dead. MaryBeth Shelly is dead. Is Moby Dick or Frankenstein any less popular? I didn't THINK so! There's your proof to your friend.

 

none of those authors are worthless, and probably much more influential than Curt Cobain anyways

 

Sylvia Plath. Point and case

 

I always thought she was a much better poet than Ted Hughes: And he certainly didn't kill himself.

Peace,

PD

 

I have to disagree. Who says any of these authors are worthless?

Normally I think of suicide as a cowardly act, but not always. Sometimes I see it as the bravest, most powerful thing one can do.

In the case of HST, it was perfect.

 

on another note, I'm one of those people who think Cobain was murdered.

 

You're not alone. But I tend to believe he took his own life. He was in a lot of pain: Physical and emotional. His depression was getting worse. And he really was starting to resent the whole rock star trip and everything. So it all makes sense (from his depressed viewpoint). I'm totally grateful for his music.

Peace,

PD

 

You pretty much just said everything I said to my friend. Only you said it much better. I still read Sexton, Plath, Brautigan, etc. And I'm always on the lookout for signs of what was to come. And it's usually not all that hard to find them. Even though Brautigan's suicide did come as a total shock to me. Same thing goes with HST. He (and all the others) will be missed by many.

Peace,

PD

 

you know, HST may have been murdered as well,

http://www.tblog.com/templates/index.php?bid=secretparrot&static=410210

 

You make some good points here. Thanks for your comment.

Peace,

PD

 

i'm a long time thompson reader, and i can see him doing it to himself, no problem. his whole life he made the hard choice and then followed thru. He was a man who saw the peoples eyes open, then close. what could be more depressing? and then on top of it, to face a destructive illness - i hope i have his courage when my day comes. and as far as his suicide being weakness? i say it was a respnse to the weakness of the people he hoped would listen.

 

so to answer the actual question - no i dont avoid a suicides work. I am more interested to see what led them there. and hst's , i see.

 

i dont care how long ago it was
if you think looking at all possible sides is "instantconspiriacy"
you have problems with your thought process

 

i think i put that up cuz nobody else did and wondered what people thought

 

haha no hostilities or nothin...

i just couldnt not answer that

...boredom

 

I really think there is a large correspondence between good writers and suicide because, for many of the best writers, the heart-shattering experiences they go through (which are so powerful to read about) ultimately catch up to them. The ones who really figure out the truths in life, can't hold up against the horrible burdens they've discovered along the way. Struggling through life like that is so exhausting, and eventually it just burdens them so much that they can't hold on anymore. It's inevitable, and I feel nothing but compassion and respect for (most of) these people for sharing their remarkable talents and wisdom while they were still living.