The subject of suicide has been of interest from the beginning of Western civilization. For philosophers, clergy and social scientists, the subject raises myriad of conceptual, theological, moral, and psychological questions, such as What makes a person's behavior suicidal? What motivates such an action? Is suicide morally permissible, or even morally required in some extraordinary circumstances? Is suicidal behavior rational? How does suicide affect those that remain? The fictional books Virgin Suicides and Norwegian Wood address some of these topics, only to find, as in real life, that each situation differs and the ones who are left must find a way to personally resolve their confusion and move on. .

             The definition of suicide is confusing. People have long looked at suicide in a negative fashion, although someone who dies to save others is more likely to be seen in a better light than someone who has done so to relieve mental or physical pain. Further, someone who continues to commit an act that has a high probability of leading to death, for example cigarette smoking, is not considered suicidal. Yet, a terminally ill person who asks someone else to hasten death is committing suicide. In addition, many philosophers question whether someone has to die to actually be a suicide People speak of "attempted" suicide, where something occurs that keeps the act from being consummated (Fairbairn).

             In Judaism, life is valued above almost all else. The religion not only allows, but often requires, someone to violate the laws if necessary to save a life. A person who is very ill, for instance is not permitted to follow the fasting laws on the very holy day of Yom Kippur, because fasting could cause further harm. Since life is so valuable, no one is permitted to do anything to hasten it. This includes the desire to end suffering. Jewish law completely forbids euthanasia, suicide and assisted death (Jewish Law website).