Background of the Study
However, when he commits suicide, he verifies that his life is not as simple as a conventional man. He entrusts his life to no one. He believes in God, but as unique as
his life, he possesses exceptional standpoint towards God. He cannot be pronounced as an atheist, but to call him a believer is an exaggeration.
Furthermore, discussing suicide is always challenging. Its uniqueness cannot easily be judged by using single perspective. It belongs to no ideology, let alone any
theological teaching. Regarding suicide, Martini states that: The complexity of suicide problems stimulates interpretations that can be
compared not
only with
biological, physiological
andor psychopathological questions, but also with the sensitive universe of
moral, philosophical and personological choices of the individual
4
. The statement shows the complexity of suicide. Single perspective is not
adequate to decipher its complexity. However, this thesis is using single ideological base, existentialism. This thesis will explore suicide by utilizing the bond between
existential idea and theistic or atheistic credo. In order to give ideological and philosophical perspective on such event, suicide has to be seen in every angle.
In order to be able to find the reason behind the life and the suicide of Bertrand Zobrist, existential ideas are employed as the base of the discussion. Therefore, ideas
from major existentialist like Sartre, Camus and Kierkegaard are needed. In his book, The Myth of Sisyphus, Camus states that:
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Mariano Martini, “Existential suicide and pathological suicide: historical, philosophical and ethical aspects”Journal of Psychopathology 1. 21 2015: 19
Suicide has never been dealt with except as a social phenomenon. On the contrary, we are concerned here, at the outset, with the relationship
between individual thought and suicide. An act like this is prepared within the silence of the heart, as is a great work of art
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. It is important to capture Zobrist’s reason behind his life and suicide. It is worth
knowing because such ambiguity also occurs in the real world. People such as suicide bombers and other people who did unacceptable deed always have their own reason.
Most of the time, other people do not care or do not want to understand their reasons. They accuse those people as monstrous and mad. However, to understand the real
reason behind such ambiguous act is always problematic. Customarily the reasons are not as simple as people thought. Camus states that:
The worm is in man’s heart. That is where it must be sought. One must follow and understand this fatal game that leads from lucidity in the face
of existence to flight from light.
Camus argues that the real problem of suicide lies in man’s heart. It is nearly
impossible to explain it clearly. However, men need to, at least, try to reveal it because such understanding can lead people into a new perspective when they see such radical
action. Camus, moreover, states that: There are many causes for a suicide, and generally the most obvious ones
were not the most powerful. Rarely is suicide committed yet the hypothesis is not excluded through reflection. What sets off the crisis is
almost always unverifiable. Ne
wspapers often speak of “personal sorrows” or of “incurable illness.” These explanations are plausible. But
one would have to know whether a friend of the desperate man had not that very day addressed him indifferently. He is the guilty one. For that is
5
Albert Camus, The Myth of Sisyphus London: Hamish Hamilton, 1955 4
enough to precipitate all the rancors and all the boredom still in suspension
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. Every stream of existential perspective is required to see the life and the suicide
of Bertrand Zobrist. His action is morally wrong, but it doesn’t mean that he can simply be pronounced as a monster, he has his own logical reason. In order to
understand the reason, people need to consider a real life problem in which it might happen to everybody. An individual like Zobrist is, actually, not too special when it
comes to the unfruitful reality of daily life. This world is full of people that able to do things, which in our mind illogical or unacceptable. One kills so many men just
because of race differentiation. Other people kill millions of people just because they see God in a di
fferent perspective. As Camus states that “the worm is in man’s heart”. It seems that there is no way to see or to determine the real reason for
one’s action. It means that it is possible for men to have no reason at all.
Through existential philosophy, an analysis will be generated from the event in which Zobrist is involved. Spreading the virus is one of the most important elements
of Zobrist’s life. It contains Zobrist ideology and a symbol of his resistance towards the world. The reflection of his efforts will be captured and compiled. Those event
compilations will be used as the evidence of how he becomes an existential hero through the process that he walks on.
Furthermore, this thesis also utilizes existential idea to discuss Zobrist’s suicide since there are some elements of suicide that cannot be defined by religion or social
6
A. Camus, The Myth of Sisyphus, 5
values. Suicide tradition in Japan is one of the cases in which social value and theological credo fail to clarify. Samurais kill themselves out of shame and failure. In
a different society, this kind of extreme action is considered as erroneous and unfounded. Thus, judging the suicide culture in Japan without knowing any
philosophy and the cultural background behind it will lead us into misdirected answer and judgment.
When Zobrist commits suicide, he justifies his action by saying that he creates the virus for men’s greater good and for God. Zobrist believes that there is nothing
wrong with his decision. He believes that the final goal of his mission is to see the creator Himself. However, it is unfair to simply judge a man like Zobrist as a
monster. Questions need to be established in order to obtain the logical reason for such action.
As Camus states that “it is wrongly assumed that simple questions involve answers that are
no less simple and that evidence implies evidence”
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, it is wrong to see suicide as a simple matter, it never been simple.
Similar to Camus, Sartre’s existential perspective is essential to the discussion.
Sartre’s viewpoint towards the world and men’s existence will add important ideas that can become the base of discussion on Zobrist’s life. Jean Paul Sartre explores
mens character through the scope of philosophy. He finds that men should live freely. However, freedom has its consequences. People tend to confuse themselves in
the process of selection. They are confused about what they should eat, wear, and
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A. Camus, The Myth of Sisyphus, 3
believe. Free will is problematic and perhaps, it is the one that makes some people commit suicide, simply because they are free to do it.
Furthermore, Camus puts suicide as a philosophical problem which cannot be determined by solely using social dogma. Zobrist’s suicide is a perfect example of
suicide complexity. Zobrist is significantly different from psychopaths that do everything for fun or passion. He seems to have a pure intention to save the world.
Utilizing Zobrist’s mission and his ideology as the foreground of the discussion, Zobrist suicide seems to have more complexity than any usual cases.
In addition, Zobrist is a character whose appearance in the novel is exceptionally low. He is recognized only by his action and by the narratives of other
characters. Even so, Bertrand Zobrist is one of the most important characters in the novel. His portion of appearance is an evidence of how men’s action is very
important to their existence. Although he only has a low portion of appearance, it does not stop him to become one of the characters that significantly affects the story.