1. Ancient Roman Suicide
Stevie Rinkus
Period 2

2. What is suicide? Suicide Noun
1. the intentional taking of one's own life.
2. destruction of one's own interests or prospects: Buying that house was financial suicide.
3. a person who intentionally takes his or her own life.

3. Why commit Suicide? Depression Psychotic Impulsive
They’re crying out for help, and don’t know how else to get it.
They have a philosophical desire to die.
They’ve made a mistake.

4. Historical / Biblical Significance
Romans were had a relaxed attitude towards suicide.
Romans also didn’t consider it a general offense, in law.
Christians described it as the work of the devil.
After defeat in battle, often times soldiers would commit suicide to avoid capture.

5. Stories / Myths
After the murder of Julius Caesar, Octavian (the future Augustus) maneuvered himself into the consulship and declared the conspirators, enemies of the state.
As temporary exiles, Brutus and Cassius raised an army to fight against the armies of Octavian and Marc Antony. At the Battle of Philippi, the armies of Brutus and Cassius were defeated. Fleeing into the hills with his remaining troops, Brutus choose to commit suicide.

6. Brutus Suicide

7. Quote from Macbeth
“Why should I play the Roman fool,” he asks, “and die / On mine own sword?”
“Why should I commit suicide like one of the ancient Romans? As long as I see enemies of mine alive, I would rather see my sword wound them than me.” – Macbeth (5.8)

8. My Interpretation
Shakespeare shows that Lady Macbeth is strong and pushes Macbeth around in the beginning, by telling him what to do.
At the end, the guilt overwhelms Lady Macbeth’s mind. She starts sleepwalking and saying she cant clean her hands of what she has done. She ends up committing suicide from insanity.

9. Work Cited http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_suicide