The Suicide's Argument by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (Poem, Summary, & Analysis)

 

The Suicide's Argument

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

(Poem, Summary, & Analysis) 

The Suicide's Argument

Ere the birth of my life, if I wished it or no

No question was asked me--it could not be so!

If the life was the question, a thing sent to try

And to live on be YES; what can NO be? to die.

 

NATURE'S ANSWER

 

Is't returned, as 'twas sent? Is't no worse for the wear?

Think first, what you ARE! Call to mind what you WERE!

I gave you innocence, I gave you hope,

Gave health, and genius, and an ample scope,

Return you me guilt, lethargy, despair?

Make out the invent'ry; inspect, compare!

Then die—if die you dare!

 

Summary

The poem is structured as a dialogue between a person contemplating suicide and Nature, who responds to the suicidal thoughts. It consists of two main parts: the Speaker’s argument for suicide, followed by Nature’s reply.

 

Speaker’s Argument (Stanza 1–4)

The speaker begins by reflecting on the nature of life and existence. He says that before his birth, he had no say in whether he wanted to live or not:

 

"Ere the birth of my life, if I wished it or no / No question was asked me—it could not be so!"

 

He expresses the feeling of being thrust into life without consent, and he raises a philosophical question: If living is saying “Yes” to existence, then is death the only way to say “No”?

 

"If the life was the question, a thing sent to try / And to live on be YES; what can NO be? to die."

 

This shows the speaker’s internal torment and his attempt to rationalize suicide as a valid negation of a life he never chose.

 

Nature’s Answer (Stanza 5–10)

Nature responds with a stern and almost scolding tone. She asks the speaker whether he is returning life as he received it, or if it has been damaged:

 

"Is't returned, as 'twas sent? Is't no worse for the wear?"

 

She urges the speaker to consider his current state and remember his beginnings—what he once was:

 

"Think first, what you ARE! Call to mind what you WERE!"

 

Nature reminds him that she gave him innocence, hope, health, genius, and a wide field of opportunities to live a meaningful life:

 

"I gave you innocence, I gave you hope, / Gave health, and genius, and an ample scope"

 

Now, she asks him to compare the gifts he was given with what he is offering back: guilt, lethargy, and despair:

 

"Return you me guilt, lethargy, despair?"

 

She challenges him to make a fair accounting of his life—to list what he has done with the gifts given—and then decide whether he truly dares to die:

 

"Make out the invent'ry; inspect, compare! / Then die—if die you dare!"

 

Conclusion

The poem ends with Nature’s forceful challenge. She doesn’t outright forbid the speaker from dying, but she demands a reckoning: an honest assessment of what life has given versus what he has made of it. Death, according to Nature, must not be taken lightly or seen as an escape without considering the full weight of responsibility for one’s choices and state of being.

 

Analysis in Detail

"The Suicide’s Argument" is a short but powerful philosophical and moral dialogue, structured as a dramatic exchange between a person contemplating suicide and the voice of Nature. The poem reflects Coleridge’s engagement with themes of existential despair, moral responsibility, free will, and the sacredness of life. It encapsulates deep inner turmoil and moral reckoning, characteristic of Coleridge’s Romantic introspection.

 

Form and Structure

The poem is written in rhyming couplets with a consistent meter that gives it a firm and deliberate rhythm, suitable for the weighty dialogue. Its bipartite structure (the speaker’s monologue followed by Nature’s reply) mirrors a philosophical dialectic—problem and response.

 

Part 1: The Speaker’s Argument (Lines 1–4)

“Ere the birth of my life, if I wished it or no /

No question was asked me—it could not be so!”

 

The speaker starts by pointing out the lack of agency in being born. He did not choose to live and was never asked if he wanted life. This evokes the existential notion of being “thrown into the world,” a condition where human beings find themselves existing without having chosen it.

 

“If the life was the question, a thing sent to try /

And to live on be YES; what can NO be? to die.”

 

Here, he frames life as a cosmic question or test—something that demands a response. Choosing to live is akin to saying “yes,” and therefore, choosing to die becomes a “no”—an ultimate refusal. The logic here is chillingly stoic but also deeply nihilistic, suggesting suicide as a form of philosophical protest.

This part captures the intellectual seduction of despair, where the speaker seeks to rationalize suicide not as an emotional outburst, but as a deliberate, reasoned choice.

 

Part 2: Nature’s Answer (Lines 5–10)

“Is’t returned, as ’twas sent? Is’t no worse for the wear?”

 

Nature, personified as a moral and nurturing force, begins her response with a question of accountability. She asks if the speaker is returning life in the same condition it was given, hinting at moral stewardship—life is a gift entrusted to humans, not something to be discarded.

 

“Think first, what you ARE! Call to mind what you WERE!”

 

Nature calls for self-reflection and memory. This suggests that despair can distort one’s vision, and a full perspective requires seeing the whole life arc—from birth to the present.

 

“I gave you innocence, I gave you hope,

Gave health, and genius, and an ample scope,”

 

Nature lists the gifts endowed at birth—innocence, hope, vitality, talent, and opportunity. This enumeration emphasizes that life came with blessings and potential, not just suffering. It frames suicide not as a purely personal choice but as a rejection of the generosity of existence.

 

“Return you me guilt, lethargy, despair?”

 

Nature contrasts the original gifts with what the speaker offers back: moral failure (guilt), emotional paralysis (lethargy), and hopelessness (despair). This reversal underscores how far the speaker has fallen and hints at self-inflicted ruin, rather than merely circumstantial misfortune.

 

“Make out the invent’ry; inspect, compare!

Then die—if die you dare!”

 

Nature ends with a defiant challenge. She does not forbid death outright but insists that it be chosen only after a thorough moral accounting. This last line can be seen as both rebuke and invitation—inviting genuine introspection, not impulsive despair.

 

Tone and Voice

The speaker’s tone is philosophical, calm, and resigned, as he tries to present suicide as a reasoned conclusion.

Nature’s tone is firm, moralizing, and challenging—not sentimental but forcefully rational and ethical.

There is no pity in Nature’s voice; instead, she demands responsibility and moral courage.

 

Themes

Free Will vs. Fate

The speaker feels bound by fate, thrust into life without consent.

Nature reminds him that while he didn’t choose to be born, he is responsible for what he becomes.

 

Despair vs. Moral Accountability

The poem contrasts despairing surrender with moral reflection.

Suicide is framed as a failure to reckon honestly with life’s gifts and responsibilities.

 

Nature as Moral Authority

Nature isn’t just a passive force; she acts as a conscience—a moral entity demanding just action and gratitude.

 

Life as a Sacred Trust

The poem suggests that life is a sacred loan, not a possession to be discarded at will.

 

Philosophical Underpinnings

Coleridge, influenced by both Christian ethics and Romantic individualism, walks a fine line. He does not preach outright condemnation of suicide, but instead presents it as a moral failure to engage with life honestly.

There are echoes of stoic reasoning, existential questioning, and even Biblical overtones (life as a gift from a higher order that must be returned with accountability).

 

Conclusion

"The Suicide’s Argument" is a rich, compact poem that wrestles with some of the most profound questions of human existence. Through a dialogue between a despairing soul and Nature, Coleridge brings forth a moral vision that values life as a divine trust. The poem doesn’t merely dismiss suicidal thoughts—it confronts them head-on, urging reflection, memory, and moral courage as responses to despair.

 

Key Exam Points

1. Title Significance

“The Suicide’s Argument” suggests a philosophical justification of suicide.

Highlights internal conflict and introduces the poem as a debate or dialogue.

 

2. Structure and Form

Two-part structure:

Speaker's existential argument (Lines 1–4)

Nature’s moral response (Lines 5–10)

Written in rhyming couplets; steady rhythm reflects seriousness and formality.

Acts like a miniature dramatic monologue or dialogic poem.

 

3. Speaker’s Perspective

Expresses existential despair—born without choice or consent.

Sees life as a test or question, and death as a legitimate “NO” response.

Reflects nihilistic reasoning and rationalized despair.

 

4. Nature’s Response

Personified as a moral force or divine conscience.

Challenges the speaker to evaluate what life has given vs. what he has made of it.

Lists gifts: innocence, hope, health, genius, scope (opportunity).

Contrasts these with what the speaker returns: guilt, lethargy, despair.

Final line: “Then die—if die you dare!” – both a challenge and a moral provocation.

 

5. Themes

Existentialism vs. Responsibility – Life as an unchosen burden vs. moral stewardship.

Suicide and Moral Reckoning – Suicide presented not as forbidden, but as needing full ethical reflection.

Nature as Moral Arbiter – Nature represents divine/natural justice and truth.

Gifts of Life vs. Wasted Potential – Highlights contrast between what was given and what has been done with it.

 

6. Tone and Language

Speaker’s tone: philosophical, calm, introspective.

Nature’s tone: stern, moralistic, confrontational.

Language: Simple yet weighty; full of moral and existential vocabulary (e.g., “innocence,” “guilt,” “dare,” “despair”).

 

7. Philosophical & Religious Context

Reflects Romantic themes of individual struggle, but with moral seriousness.

Influenced by Christian ethics—life as a gift not to be discarded lightly.

Suggests that suicide is not just a personal act but a moral and spiritual failure.

 

8. Purpose and Message

Coleridge does not outright condemn suicide but presents it as a decision that must follow deep self-examination.

Encourages recollection of life's blessings, even in times of despair.

Implies that one must answer morally for how life is used before choosing death.

 

9. Famous Lines to Quote

“If the life was the question… what can NO be? to die.”

“I gave you innocence, I gave you hope…”

“Then die—if die you dare!”

 

10. Relevance to Coleridge’s Life

Coleridge personally battled depression, addiction, and spiritual crises.

This poem reflects his internal struggles, making it autobiographical in tone.

 

One-Page Revision Sheet

Overview:

This is a short philosophical poem structured as a dialogue between a person contemplating suicide and the voice of Nature. The speaker tries to justify ending his life, while Nature counters with a moral and rational argument, urging him to reflect on what life has given him.

 

Structure & Form:

The poem is divided into two parts: the speaker’s argument (lines 1–4) and Nature’s response (lines 5–10).

Written in rhyming couplets with a regular rhythm, lending the poem a formal and reflective tone.

Dramatic monologue style with an internal philosophical debate.

 

Speaker’s Viewpoint:

Feels life was forced upon him without his consent.

Considers life as a test, and choosing to live is saying “yes”; thus, death becomes the “no.”

Presents suicide as a logical and reasoned response to existence.

 

Nature’s Reply:

Personified Nature confronts the speaker, asking whether he is returning life in the same state it was given.

Reminds him of the gifts he once received: innocence, hope, health, genius, and opportunity.

Accuses him of returning guilt, lethargy, and despair in place of those gifts.

Urges him to make an honest inventory of what he has done with life—and only then consider death, if he dares.

 

Themes:

Existential Responsibility – We may not choose to be born, but we are accountable for how we live.

Suicide and Moral Reckoning – Death must be weighed against the moral use of life’s gifts.

Nature as Moral Voice – Nature here is a force that holds humans accountable for their choices.

Wasted Potential vs. Given Gifts – The contrast between life’s possibilities and human despair is central.

 

Tone and Language:

The speaker's tone is contemplative and resigned.

Nature’s tone is firm, direct, and confrontational, almost like a rebuking parent or divine force.

The language is straightforward but morally weighty, using contrasts to stress accountability.

 

Key Quotes for Exams:

“No question was asked me—it could not be so!”

“If the life was the question… what can NO be? to die.”

“I gave you innocence, I gave you hope…”

“Then die—if die you dare!”

 

Contextual Insight:

Coleridge’s personal struggles with depression, addiction, and spiritual crisis are reflected in the poem.

The poem blends Romantic introspection with Christian ethics and moral philosophy.

 

Conclusion:

The poem addresses one of life’s deepest moral dilemmas—suicide—not with condemnation, but with a challenge to reflect, remember, and take responsibility. Coleridge presents Nature as the voice of conscience, urging the speaker (and the reader) to reconsider life with awareness of its gifts and sacredness.