Augustine Suicide Analysis

Augustine on the problem of suicide is a focus response to Christians who were victims of rape during the sack of Rome. In effect to the act of violation they may be contemplating of ending their own life in order to preserve their sense of ‘honour’. Whereas some argue (those against Christianity) that there are acts of suicide that are justifiable such as martyrdom, for martyr’s foresees their coming death and allow it. Augustine in effect responds in Book 1 of “The city of God” (Dyson version) that suicide greatly differs from martyrdom because the two possessed different intentions when their death was brought about. For suicide victims intend their own death, whereas martyrs foresee theirs, yet had no actions in bringing it about. In which …show more content…
For the victims of rape that choose suicide as their only option after the event is because how they viewed themselves negatively because of their concept of chastity itself. For the victims that have lost their chasteness and killed themselves are equivalent to the individual who would have chosen death rather losing their material fortunes. Furthermore, these victims perceive the concept of purity as an earthly possession that is achieved only through the physicality of the body, rather one that is meant to be kept in mind and soul. For the victim that killed themselves perceive their unadulterated body as an object that represents shame rather grasping on to the mind-set of humility found through repentance. whereas Augustine is arguing that their chasteness it is still in their possession. Rather they are mistaken in believing that they have lost their chastity, when in fact they have lost their pride in their physical body. Yet in having honor in chasteness contradicts the humility one would have of their own body. For this can be understood through Lucretia, who killed herself because she was raped and believed her adulterated body was going to bring shame upon her family, and in order to preserve their honor she killed herself. Augustine is asserting that these people see the loss of their virginity as the only means in possessing the mind state of chasteness and purity, are misguided. Because in losing the material good of their body they form the belief they have performed an act of adultery, when in fact they have not. This is in my belief is the critical point Augustine is attempting to make with that of the Martyrs. Given the Martyrs had no action nor intention in killing themselves they have not performed an act of suicide. Whereas the victim of rape did not perform an act of adultery because they did not intend, nor desired it. Yet choosing to