Suicide according to Jan Wenner and Montaigne

Jann Wenner on the Charlie Rose interview program commented on the late, provocative (read gonzo journalist*) Hunter S. Thompson's death by suicide. Wenner, publisher of Rolling Stone magazine and producer of an oral biography of Thompson, spoke thoughtfully on the profound subject which also intrigued the 16th Century writer Michel de Montaigne.


A little back-and-forth between Wenner and Montaigne might interest us:

Wenner: He (Thompson) was a comic genius; he loved the character he made (even if) it took him over; he became a cartoon character." (Cartoonist Garry Trudeau invented the character "Duke" after Thompson). Click for "Duke" bytes for the gonzo journalist. In the end, (Thompson) was suffering from drink, drugs, and a terrible fall disabling him with a broken leg, preventing him from walking very well.

Montaigne: That Monsieur Thompson took writing seriously is a good means by which to judge him. How else but by the assay of art can we know ourselves? However, that he abused the drink proved poor, for the worst estate of man, is where he loseth the knowledge and government of himself'.

Wenner: Nevertheless, it all had a bad effect on the guy. He was a very debilitated person who struggled physically helping you to understand why he decided to commit suicide. It got to the point where life just wasn't fun anymore."

Montaigne: "Fun." I don't know the word. I will agree that if thou livest in paine and sorrow, thy base courage is the cause of it, to die there wanteth but will, and M. Thompson had much of it. To extreme sickness, extreme remedies, certainly.

(Being a skeptic and the inventor of the essay, which permits a testing of many ideas, Montaigne might add):

Montaigne: But this goeth not without some contradiction, for many are of the opinion, that without the express commandement of him, that hath placed us in this world, we may by no meanes forsake the garrison (responsibility) of it, and that it is in the hands of God only, who therein hath placed us, not for our selves alone, but for his glory, and others service, when ever it shall please him to discharge us hence, and not for us to take leave....
(pause)
You understand, it is a particular infirmitie and which is not seen in any other creature to carelessly set ourselves at naught...it is of like vanitie, that we desire to be other, than we are."
Wenner: Yes, Hunter had vanity, yet he suffered physically and emotionally at the end, and he found himself unuseful.

Montaigne: Once more, "fun" I don't know, but "useful," I think shows some purpose. Being humbled before lesser figures, this I understand. And again, to avoid a worse death, a man should take it at his own pleasure."

It is important to note that when Montaigne provides numerous examples of suicide in the history he cites, the suicides usually occur because of some political misfortune where one might have to endure torture and eventual death at the hands of an enemy who lacked virtue. Our perception of virtue differs from the ancients whom Montaigne refers to.

*Gonzo journalism is a style of storytelling that mixes factual events into a fictional tale. It uses a highly subjective style that often includes the reporter as part of the story via a first person narrative; events can be exaggerated in order to emphasize the underlying message. (Wikipedia English).

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