SHIFTING ATTITUDES TOWARD SUICIDE IN VICTORIAN ENGLAND
By : Liese Sherwood-Fabre
SHIFTING ATTITUDES TOWARD SUICIDE IN VICTORIAN ENGLAND
By : Liese Sherwood-Fabre
W h e n c o n f r o n t e d with an unnatural death , authorities must d e t e r m i n e whether it was caused by another ( murder ), by the victim ( suicide ), or an accident . During the Victorian era , a major shift occurred with regards to suicide to include whether the person was of “ sound mind ” when it was attempted . This decision had a major impact on the victim , whether the effort was successful or not .
Ancient societies rarely criminalized suicide , basing condemnation on “ understanding ” the deed . When faced with a terminal illness , for example , the act might be viewed as acceptable . A suicide without such basis , on the other hand , went against the will to survive . Jewish , Christian , and Muslim religions further defined such efforts as an insult to God , and therefore , a sin . ( 1 ) Such viewpoints impacted how the victims were treated . They were denied burial in
sacred grounds , and at times , their bodies were taken at night and buried at a crossroads with a stake through the heart . ( 2 )
English common law defined suicide as a felony by the 1300s . Because such a conviction involved the forfeiture of all lands and goods to the Crown , ( 3 ) the legal impact on the victim ’ s family members ( loss of lands and goods ) along with the denial of a Christian burial was believed to serve as a deterrent . ( 4 )
When confronted with an unnatural death , the coroner and the coroner ’ s jury had to review the case to determine if the person was insane at the time of the felony and , thus , not subject to punishment . During the 18 th century , the view that those committing suicide were often mentally ill — at least temporarily — became the accepted explanation among most of the population , particularly medical laymen . ( 5 ) Family and friends would testify on the deceased ’ s state of mind . Toward the end of the 19 th century , almost all those committing self-inflicted deaths were found temporarily insane and those surviving such efforts often taken directly to a mental asylum . ( 6 )
These shifts led to legal changes . In
1823 , Parliament repealed earlier practices denying religious rites for the burial of the suicide victim , and in 1870 , the forfeiture of property to the Crown . ( 7 ) Finally , England decriminalized suicide and attempted suicide in 1961 . ( 8 )
The evolution of societal and legal responses to suicide from ancient times through the Victorian era reflects a significant shift from viewing it as a moral and religious transgression to recognizing the mental health aspects involved , leading to more lenient legal and social attitudes toward the victims . These changes led to reforms in the treatment of both the deceased and survivors , culminating in the decriminalization of suicide in England in 1961 with more compassion and a nuanced understanding of mental health issues .
If someone you know is in crisis and contemplating harming themselves , in the US , please dial 988 — the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline . In other countries , please contact emergency or crisis services .
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