Shakespeare..yes, I agree about him being equivocal about his star crossed lovers. He sometimes sounds like he thinks Romeo and Juliet are silly kids who need to grow up a bit…Friar Lawrence is shown as a dithering idiot too.

Anthony is definitely ridiculed at times but Cleopatra does rise above her faults in the end, I think.

The Danish Prince, of course, is equivocal about the whole thing.

I also agree with you about those left behind; I have known a three suicide cases myself but maybe that says something about me.

Friend Will is promising to sort some stuff on this site soon….I will tell him about your problems with the comments button especially as I have missed your voice, my friend.

I remember hearing – some years ago – about a friend of a friend who committed suicide. His note said he was "bored". That sounded quite grant until I read recently that George Sanders, the well-known 'cad', said the same thing some years before.

The difficulty with most fictional depictions is that they show it mainly from the point of view of the person – but neglect the aftermath and the impact on friends and family. Perhaps that's why "The Big Chill" is such a gripping film – it shows how you are affected.

I can't imagine ever feeling so low – so I can't judge. My default setting is comedy rather than tragedy. That's not a boast – it's just the way it is.

BTW: It is still tricky to post replies – my cursor disappears!