O różnicach w podejmowaniu decyzji ostatecznej
On the differences in making the final decision

Author(s): Halszka Witkowska
Subject(s): Cultural history, Studies of Literature, Sociology, Film / Cinema / Cinematography, Theory of Literature
Published by: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
Keywords: suicide; time; decision; scoptsy; sect
Summary/Abstract: The text addresses the process of making decisions about taking one’s own life, depending on whether it is a decision made individually or influenced by the behaviour of the community. The examples given are the suicides of nineteenth-century Russian skoptsy, whose decisions were made not only under the pressure of time, but also thanks to a charismatic leader. On the other hand, the author presents the thoughts expressed by Venedikt Yerofeyev, who describes in an accurate and literary manner his feelings related to making decisions about death. What is the function of time in making the final decision? Is suicide always related to loneliness? And finally, can the idea of taking one’s own life be a result of imitation? The author of the essay tries to answer these and several other questions, which not only concerns the decision-making process to take one’s own life, but above all points to the importance of time in it.

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