suicide note

[Anonymous]

Hello Everyone!

Novelist Tim Lott wrote his first book, The Scent of Dried Roses, after a depressive breakdown in the late 1980s. He became obsessed with killing himself and wrote a suicide note to his family.

“So low. Not low: nonexistent, rambling, utterly mad, totally sane. I loved you all so deeply when I had a heart to love with, when I possessed a soul. Now all I care about is cigarettes.”

He climbed onto a roof but was too indecisive to jump.

Teachers,

I want to read between the lines of this suicide note.

So low. Not low - Does it mean that when one stands on the roof of a building or house while looking down to the ground?
Nonexistent - life exists no more?
heart and soul - What is the difference between these two words?

Thank You!

 

[RonBee]

Nonexistent apparently refers to his feelings. As for the rest, Tim Lott can best answer that.

 

[Red5]

This might shed dome light on it: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2099-901207,00.html

 

[Tdol]

I take the 'not low' to mean that he was feeling worse than low.

 

[Hong Kong Chinese]

My deepest thanks

Sorry to all! It’s me – Hong Kong Chinese!

Mr. Red Five,

Thank you very much for your link, but I can’t log on to read the information which was provided by you because I have to pay! Anyway I must thank you!

Also I have to thank to Mr Ronbee who works just like any working bee. And Mr tdol too, who is a real English teacher.

I am waiting for the reply of Miss Casiopea who spends her precious time teaching Japanese English. I’d like to know the culture difference between the oriental and the occidental from Miss Casiopea.

 

[Tdol]

You're welcome. I hope Casiopea can help. Many newspapers in the UK allow you to see articles only on the day they are published, after which you have to pay. ;-)

 

[RonBee]

That link didn't work for me either.