Can Society Exist Without Law - 869 Words

CAN SOCIETIES EXIST WITHOUT LAW The question whether society can exist without law is somewhat an interesting question, because depending on which context you may want to look at this question there may be views and arguments that tends to differ because of how individuals view the law and society, indicating for or against whether society can indeed exist without laws. This could be a great debate but first we need to answer questions like what is society? What is law?. According to Black’s Law Dictionary a society is defined as an association or company of persons in considerable number interesting in a common object or a group of people living in the same place, under the same laws and regulations, and who have common rights and†¦show more content†¦When we look deeper into the difference between morality and law we can see that laws passed down by our government representatives and precedents does not have boundaries with moral law. As St. Thomas Aquinas argued, human laws does not aim to prohi bit all immoral actions like murder and robbery that hurt a member of society and therefore make human society impossible. There are no laws incited on people that we should be kind to the sickly or show compassion for the homeless and less fortunate or that homosexual activities, fornication and adultery are forbidden. Moral laws regulate the order of how people conduct themselves personally and socially, whilst law looks only to the public order of the society. The difference between morality and law is that law is an external factor to whom it is imposed upon and has sanctions. Morality is base on our own choice of reasoning and ensuring that our moral principles come from our own conscience. Christian theologians St. Augustine considered that an unjust law ceases to be law at all and carries no obligation in conscience. For St. Thomas Aquinas an unjust law was a corruption of law, a spoilt law or an outrage rather than aShow MoreRelatedThe Security Vs. Freedom955 Words   |  4 Pagesimperative to a society. This assumes that the state should have unlimited power when it comes to preventing acts against the society. The debate between security and freedom however, shows that this is not an undisputed fact. Without picking a side, it is still evident that just because something is perceived as being mandatory for a society’s continuation, it does not ostensibly indicate that it should be automatically accepted. In fact, it could be the case that certain societies should be leftRead MoreHuman Nature1089 Words   |  5 Pagessource, we must first understand the nature of man. Naturally all men are in a state of perfect liberty. This signifies that they can dispose of their persons and possessions and can order their actions in the way they see as fit, within the limits of nature’s law, without depending on or asking permission from any other man. A state of equality should exist amongst all men. A state of equality in which all jurisdiction and power is equal and no individual has more than another of the sameRead MoreRawls Justice Is Fairness1030 Words   |  5 PagesEssay-2 John Rawls never claimed to know the only way to start a society, but he did suggest a very sound and fair way to do so. He based his just scenario on two principles of justice. His first principle of justice was that everyone should have the same rights as others. His following policy decision was that in the event of any inequalities, they should be to the benefit to everybody, and available to all people in the society. This original Rawls approach to justice has been highly reveredRead MoreThe Usefulness of Law Essay538 Words   |  3 PagesThe Usefulness of Law Law is the most important thing in all over the world to keep the criminality away from each country. The law in every country is very similar except if we take out some cases in Houston Texas and Midol East that some criminals were executed. There are a lot of cases that a bad crime perpetrated without the criminal that perpetrate the crime to get arrest. Because of that, police because of their bad background arrested many innocent and criminal people. ThisRead MoreThe Bourgeoisie Essay1503 Words   |  7 Pages     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Karl Marx describes â€Å"Society as a whole [as being] more and more [split] up into two great hostile camps, into two great classes directly facing each other-bourgeoisie and proletariat† (Marx 124).   As Marx made his distinction between upper class, bourgeoisie, and lower class, proletariats, it is important to keep in mind the societal structure at the time.   To understand how classes were created and the disparity between the rich and poor, or, bourgeoisie and proletariat, it is necessaryRead MoreClassical Liberalism : Mill, Kant, And Locke1638 Words   |  7 Pagesliberalism. Each one wrote in a different time period, offering a different prospective in their writings. They discussed ideas behind morality and property, elaborating on how humans behave in society. They all make their respective arguments carefully and convincingly, as they seek to understand humans and society. Despite all three political philosopher s writing about Classical Liberalism, one makes the most convincing argument. Immanuel Kant has the most convincing argument about freedom because bothRead MoreThe Marxist Theory Of Law1348 Words   |  6 Pageshypothesis of law includes a materialistic perspective of social life in which law and the state (the superstructure) are subordinate to the predominant methods of creation all through human history.  In capitalism where the law values private property, the state turns into the official body of the bourgeoisie which utilises the law to sustain their private interests. As Marx believes the social relations of production under this superstructure are exploitative and innately unstable, society will advanceRead MoreJohn Locke And The Social Contract Theory1024 Words   |  5 Pages Over time American society has greatly evolved. Hobbes and Locke developed several different theories and ideas that contributed to helping our society evolve to how it is today. From their theories to their ideas on natural rights it was clear that they had completely different ideas on society. However, they both agreed that government is necessary in order to protect natural rights and that we should create laws that make us happy as a society. The social contract theory defines what we willRead MoreThe Political Ideology Of Anarchism And On The Main Believes Of This Ideology1350 Words   |  6 PagesThis essay will focus on the political ideology of Anarchism and on the main believes of this ideology. It will then specifically take under consideration the belief that the society could survive without the state which is seen as an evil. In conclusion, it will discuss how the absence of government would affect people’s lives. Anarchism derives by anarchy which means no rules. It‘s a philosophy that has is the centre humans. It focusses on leadership because all humans cooperate to establishRead MoreThe Canadian Charter Of Rights And Freedoms1531 Words   |  7 Pagesfreedoms that Canadians have as citizens of this country. In this paper I will ask whether we need such a charter, whether we can trust the interpretation of the Charter by the Supreme Court and how the Charter balances power in a democratic way. I will then contemplate the foundational place morality holds in the lawmaking process. In all of this I argue that to make a good law one must hold to a moral standard and one must act in the understanding that belief, and not objectivity, plays the main role

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar - 2000 Words

Manipulation influences decisions and changes others’ thoughts. In The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, manipulative language acts prominently between the characters. Brutus struggles to decide if the safety of the Roman Republic appears more important than his friendship with Julius Caesar. Cassius tries to persuade him to join the conspiracy that decides to kill Caesar. Envious of Julius Caesar’s power, the Senators believes that when Caesar becomes ruler, the change of government forever affects Rome. Brutus agrees that it seems for the best of Rome for Caesar never to become dictator, but he never wishes to change his opinion on his death. In a persuasive manner, Cassius sends anonymous letters to Brutus to convince him to join the†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"Beware the Ides of March† (Shakespeare The Tragedy of Julius Caesar 1.2.20). When Caesar approaches Brutus and Cassius, a Soothsayer warns him to be aware of March 15th, and this day becomes the day of Caesar’s death. Nevertheless, members of the conspiracy convince Caesar about the positivity of the soothsayer’s warning, and Caesar disregards the notice. Eventually, Cassius convinces Brutus to join the conspiracy. The Ides of March appears, and the Senators and aristocrats lure Caesar into the trap to kill him. The men flatter Caesar, and they simultaneously stab him. Antony pleads to speak at Caesar’s funeral. In his speech, Antony tells the plebeians about Caesar’s will as he explains to them the gifts they receive from Caesar. Consequently, Antony convinces the citizens that the Senators projects evil, and he urges the plebeians to seek revenge. â€Å"We will be revenged† (JC 3.2.204). The plebeians become furious after Antony’s speech, and they decide to kill the conspirators. Antony’s manipulative speech leads the fickle plebeians to change their opinion on Caesar’s death as they resolve to execute the conspiracy in an act of revenge. Before Antony gives his speech, Brutus also manipulates the plebeians and Antony. He begins to explain his reason to kill Julius Caesar. â€Å"[ . . . ] In the truth revealed to Antony by Brutus, [Caesar is] the most perfect Roman of them all† (Ronan 222). Brutus convinces Antony that Caesar portrays a perfect Roman, and heShow MoreRelatedThe Tragedy Of Julius Caesar1050 Words   |  5 Pagesonce said â€Å"The pen is mightier than the sword.† I agree wholeheartedly with this statement. Evidence that supports this claim can be found in both Shakespeare’s play â€Å"The Tragedy of Julius Caesar† and in the modern day example of Malala Yousafzai. In Julius Caesar, Mark Antony uses words to convince the citizens of Rome that Caesar was a successful leader and not someone they should celebrate the death of. Also, the conspirators use words to convince Brutus to join their cause. Without Brutus, theRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Julius Caesar859 Word s   |  4 Pages The play the Tragedy of Julius Caesar was written and produced by one of the most famous play writers in history, William Shakespeare. The play started with the controversy over Caesar and his power as the roman emperor. Cassius one of the senators for Rome had suspicion over Caesar over the thought of him becoming a dictator for having too much power. Brutus his best friend was convinced later on by Cassius, who sneaked false letters of the roman citizen about Caesar’s power and ambition. ThisRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Julius Caesar1507 Words   |  7 Pagesthan likely to be conveyed and persuaded into believing or investing in the speaker’s words. As a result, the speaker is then able to incorporate a deeper effect on the listener, and conduct various long lasting outcomes. In the play, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Antony is able to create a greater effect and convince the crowd of his beliefs by focusing on all aspects of a sturdy speech. One of the many important objectives of a speaker is to portray credibility and trustworthiness. The use ofRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Julius Caesar1483 Words   |  6 PagesThe Tragedy of Julius Caesar has catastrophe in more characters than just Caesar. William Shakespeare presented Marcus Brutus in a way that closely followed the example of a tragic hero. Brutus came from noble birth, had a fatal flaw, suffered a great tragedy. Brutus also fits into Shakespeare’s variation of tragic heroes, by giving Brutus complexity, internal conflict, and using choice over fate. Brutus’ ultimate goal is fulfilled by in part by his actions. Brutus thought his cause to be honorableRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Julius Caesar867 Words   |  4 PagesThe Tragedy Of Julius Caesar The Tragedy Of Julius Caesar, written by William Shakespeare, is a perfect tragedy, showing both â€Å"pity† and â€Å"fear†, as well as not â€Å"possess[ing] no single tragic quality† (Aristotle). Throughout the play, betrayal and corruption are seen, filling the play with other tragic qualities. Out of all the characters in the play, the most complex is Brutus. Brutus, being one of the conspirators behind the death of his good friend Caesar, takes his place as the stories tragicRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Julius Caesar1043 Words   |  5 Pagesthe greatest writer of all time, revealed critical opinions about the events during his time period in his plays. In one of Shakespeare’s greatest works, Julius Caesar, he illustrated the tragedy of Caesar back in ancient Rome in 44 B.C. While Brutus and Cassius acted as conspirators, or the antagonists, they planned the assassination of Caesar. Deciding wrongly on doing for the good of Rome, Brutus indeed paid his good intentions. Assuredly, Brutus’s three fatal mistakes could be listed in orderRead MoreLiterary Analysis of the Tragedy of Julius Caesar773 Words   |  4 PagesLiterary Analysis of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar William Shakespeare wrote his play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, so that his readers could have an idea of the lives, wars, and conflicts during the roman times. Shakespeare may have written the play because of his interest in history. He studied the writings of the historian Plutarch, who was alive at the same time as Caesar and wrote about his life. He also needed a job and money, and he had a fear of Queen Elizabeth dying. Shakespeare lovedRead MoreAnalysis Of Brutus In The Tragedy Of Julius Caesar1147 Words   |  5 Pagescareful when it comes to trust because people change so quickly. A prime example of this is a character named Brutus in William Shakespeares The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. In this play the noble Brutus is persuaded by a group of conspirators that Julius Caesar, a friend of Brutus, should be killed before he is crowned the king. Following the death of Caesar, Brutus speaks out to the people of Rome. He left his speech feeling extremely confident, but soon came to find an angry city upset by the deathRead MoreJulius Caesar and Other Shakespearian Tragedies810 Words   |  3 PagesShakespearian tragedies usually have a wel l-defined tragic hero. According to Aristotle, a Greek philosopher, a tragic hero is a character of high rank and nobility, exhibits a tragic flaw, and recognizes how his actions led to his eventual downfall. William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Julius Caesar incited a century old argument over who really deserves the title of â€Å"The Tragic Hero.† Many argue that Caesar is the tragic hero. However, I believe that Brutus should hold the title of tragic heroRead MoreThe Contributions of The Women of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar891 Words   |  4 PagesIn a cast of over 30 characters, there are only two women. This is a statement describing the world renown play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare. These two female characters are Calpurnia, the wife of Julius Ceasar, and Portia, the wife of Marcus Brutus. Other than these two women, the cast is composed entirely of male characters. In a work of literature so populated by men, one may ask why Shakespear e takes the time to include any women at all. However, after further reflection

Discuss the drawback of the jury system as it is implemented in the UK Free Essays

string(129) " trial to be conducted, yet it could be said that this should apply to all trials and not just those that have a complex nature\." Introduction A jury in the UK generally consists of 12 randomly selected lay people that have been sworn conduct an impartial verdict as to whether a defendant is guilty or not guilty in a criminal trial. The objective of the jury system is to provide a just and fair outcome that could not otherwise be achieved by judges alone (Lesser, 2010: 12). It is believed that if judges acted alone, the decision would be a prejudicial, which would create unfairness. We will write a custom essay sample on Discuss the drawback of the jury system as it is implemented in the UK or any similar topic only for you Order Now The human rights of the individual concerned would also be violated (Human Rights Act 1998, giving effect to the European Convention on Human Rights 1951). The most import concept of having a juror give a verdict is that juries may acquit a defendant in situations where a guilty verdict is demanded by the law (Elliott and Quinn, 2010: 233). An example of this can be seen in the case of R v Wang [2005] UKHL 9 where it was made clear by the House of Lords that a judge can never instruct a jury to convict a defendant. The jury system is therefore considered an important part of the confidence society has in the criminal justice system. The Juries Act 1974 is the main governing legislation that regulates the jury system by signifying what persons are eligible for jury service as well as making provision for the right to challenge jurors. The Criminal Justice Act (CJA) 2003 is also capable of restricting the role of the jury by imposing further limitations on the eligibility criteria and by allowing trial by judge alone in certain circumstances. Whether these limitations are necessary is arguable, but it has been said that the jury is an outmoded institution that needs to be reformed. In light of this, the drawbacks to the jury system in the UK will be discussed in this study. Trial by Jury The jury system in the UK is highly controversial because on the one hand, juries are considered to provide important protection for citizens (Gastil et al; 2002: 585), whilst on the other they are considered to be costly, time consuming and unable to deal effectively with complex cases (Gastil and Weiser, 2006: 6). In addition, it has also been said that the jury system in the UK is outmoded and ineffective and that it should be abolished (Baksi, 2014: 1). Essentially, because juries are not being used as frequently as they once were, it is questionable whether they are in fact still needed (Zander, 2007: 157). In the majority of instances, a jury is not needed as a defendant will have submitted a guilty plea, yet in those instances where a not guilty plea has been entered, it has been said that juries are essential in ensuring that a fair trial is provided to the defendant under Article 6 of the ECHR and in the interests of justice. This was recognised by Thomas and Balmer when it was pointed out that; â€Å"there is an ancient right for an accused to be tried only by the lawful judgement of his equals or by the law of the land and even though there is no modern constitutional right to trial by jury in England and Wales, governments have found the public extremely unwilling to sanction further restrictions to jury trials† (2007: 1). This highlights the significance of jury trials and whilst there are many drawbacks, it is widely accepted that juries help to maintain justice. Conversely, it is believed by some that jury trials should be eradicated on the basis that they are largely ineffective on the basis that judges have a strong influence over the outcome of the trial (Stone and Dennis, 2003: 2). This was identified by Sanders and Young when it was evidenced that even though it is left to the jury to decide, beyond reasonable doubt, whether or not a defendant is guilty, â€Å"judges often exert a strong influence on the outcome and are far from being the passive impartial referee as depicted in adversarial theory†(2006; 496). Because of the influence judges exert over juries, it seems as though the jury system is a waste of time and expense. Furthermore, because juries do not have to give a reason for their decision, it is difficult to tell whether a just decision has been provided anyway as the decision may not be based upon their own findings and may instead be based on the judges influence. In view of this, the Auld Report found that; â€Å"many contributors have suggested that the system may not, as a matter of English law, withstand a challenge, that the unreasoned jury verdict violates article 6.† It is questionable whether this does violate article 6, ye t it was made clear in Condron v UK (2000) 31 EHRR 1 that it is not. Therefore, even though jurors do not have to provide a reason for decisions reached, it is said that a fair trial is still being provided. This does not seem fair, since a violation of Article 6 would be found if a judge failed to provide a reason, yet this is not the case for jurors. As stressed by Doran; â€Å"trial by jury occupies a pivotal yet paradoxical position at the centre of the English criminal justice system† (2002; 379). Arguably, it is clear from this that many do actually favour jury trials and are of the view that an effective justice system is being attained. However, because jury trials are not used in serious and complex fraud trials, it is arguable whether jurors are well equipped to deal with all other trials. The inability of jurors to deal with such cases was introduced by the CJA 2003 and emerged from the Jubilee Line Jurors [2007] Crim LR 255 case. Here. jurors suffered serious personal difficulties because of the complexity of the issues at hand (Lloyd-Bostock: 2007: 1). In cases such as this, it is more desirable for a judge-only trial to be conducted, yet it could be said that this should apply to all trials and not just those that have a complex nature. You read "Discuss the drawback of the jury system as it is implemented in the UK" in category "Essay examples" Moreover, the fact that trial by jury has been abandoned in other jurisdictions seems to demonstrate that the jury service is unworkable and ineffective. This has exemplified by Laville (2010: 1) who put forward that; â€Å"in the last 400 years, trials without juries have taken place in Northern Ireland, where the Diplock courts were set up to provide justice in the intimidating atmosphere of the Troubles.† Consequently, it could be said that Northern Ireland are aware of the difficulties and uncertainties of jury trials and have therefore made the decision to abandoning them. Juries were also discarded in Germany on the 4th January 1924 when it became apparent that injustice frequently occurred as a result of jury trials. This was identified by Herzog when it was noted that; â€Å"since 1924 jury trials have been abolished in Germany and there are no signs of a renaissance of lay participation and jury trial in the German criminal justice system† (2012: 1). It is arguable whether this demonstrates the ineffectiveness of jury systems but it is evident that the Germans do not agree with them. Jury trials were also abandoned in India following the case of K.M. Nanavati v State of Maharashtra [1962] Suppl 1 SCR 567 where it became clear that juror’s decisions were capable of being influenced by the media and the public. As put by Debroy; â€Å"the Nanavati case was responsible for abolition of jury trials in India and it was the last trial by jury† (2009: 1). It was also identified by Debroy that there is a correlation in India between the abolishment of jury trials and the prolonging of cases (2009: 2). In view of this, it cannot be said that jury trials should be completely abolished in the UK as cases may actually be prolonged as a result and there are various safeguards that have been implemented so as to ensure juries are not being influenced by the media and the public (Rackstraw, 2008: 726). Therefore, whilst jury systems do create difficulties, it cannot be said that they should be completely discarded as a result as they are still considered a vital p art of the justice system. Furthermore, if jury trials were abolished it is likely that this would result in prolonged trials as is the case in India. Furthermore, judges would also be capable of producing prejudicial decisions, which would ultimately contravene Article 6 of the ECHR which provides for a defendants rights to a fair trial. In a study that was conducted by Sturcke, it was found that; two in three jurors did not fully understand the legal directions and that more than one in 10 jurors carried out their own investigations online about a case (2010: 1). This study was based on 69,000 cases over a two-year period, which highlights the injustices that can actually be caused by a jury trial. This seems to provide a strong argument as to why jury trials should be abolished, however problems will still be caused by judge alone trials. In effect, it appears as though there ought to be a balance so that juries do remain, yet where cases are likely to be prejudiced a judge alone trial should be conducted. Essentially, this is what seems to be happening at present as jury trials are being discarded in serious and complex fraud cases, yet whether this scope should be broadened to allow for their elimination in other cases is likely. This will ensure that juries are maintained, on the one hand, whilst also enabling them to be discarded in cases which would be difficult for them to cope with. Whether this means that there will be an effective jury system in place, is however arguable. Conclusion Overall, there are many underlying difficulties which emerge from a trial by jury, yet it cannot be said that they should be completely eradicated. This is because judge alone trials will also have many drawbacks, which demonstrates the need for the jury system to be maintained. In order to prevent unfair outcomes from being produced, it is therefore necessary that a balance is attained which could be achieved by removing juries from serious and complex cases and those which would have a damaging effect on their ability to cope. Referencing Baksi, C., (2014) ‘Bias has ‘significant’ effect on verdicts, jury research says’ The Law Society Gazette, Available [Online] at: http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/practice/bias-has-significant-effect-on-verdicts-jury-research-says/5039295.article [23 April, 2014]. Debroy, B. Nanavati and Jury Trials, Law Resource India, (2009), Available [Online] at: http://indialawyers.wordpress.com/2009/12/26/nanavati-and-jury-trials/ [23 April, 2014]. Doran, S; McConville, M. and Wilson, G. The Handbook of the Criminal Justice Process, OUP Oxford, 1st Edition, (2002), p. 379. Elliott, C. and Quinn, F. (2010) English Legal System, Longman, 11th Edition. Gastil, J., and Weiser, P., (2006) ‘Jury Service as an Invitation to Citizenship: Accessing the Civic Value of Institutionalised Deliberation’ Legal Studies Research Paper, 06-32. Gastil, J., Deess, E., and Weiser, P., (2002) ‘Civic Awakening in the Jury Room: A Test of the Connection between Jury Deliberation and Political Participation’ Journal of Politics, Volume 64, No. 2, 585-595. Herzog, F. Philosophical and Social View of the Jury: Could it Have a Renaissance in Germany(2012) Available [Online] at: www.cairn.info/load_pdf.php?ID_ARTICLE=RIDP_721_0553 [23 April, 2014]. Laville, S. Heathrow Robbery Trial Breaks with 400 Year Tradition of Trial by Jury, The Guardian, (10 January, 2010), Available [Online] at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jan/10/heathrow-robbery-trial-jury-twomey [23 April, 2014]. Lesser, M. A. (2010) The Historical Development of the Jury System, Kessinger Publishing: London. Lloyd-Bostock, S. The Jubilee Line Jurors: does their experience strengthen the argument for judge-only trial in long and complex fraud casesCriminal Law Review, Crim L.R. 255, (2007). Rackstraw, M., (2008) ‘In the Balance’ New Law Journal, Volume 158, Issue 7322. Sanders, A. and Young, R. Criminal Justice, OUP Oxford, 3rd Edition, (2006). Stone, J., and Dennis, R., (2003) ‘Race and Ethnicity’ Comparative and Theoretical Approaches, 1-7. Sturke, J. Jurors ‘struggle’ to understand judges, study finds, The Guardian, (17 February, 2010), Available [Online] at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/feb/17/jurors-judges-legal-advice-report [23 April, 2014]. The Auld Report, Review of the Criminal Courts of England and Wales, Chapter 5, Juries, Available [Online] at: http://www.criminal-courts-review.org.uk/ccr-05.htm [23 April, 2014]. Thomas, C. and Balmer, N. Diversity and Fairness in the Jury System, The Ministry of Justice Research Series 2/07, (June, 2007), Available [Online] at: http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/docs/JuriesReport2-07-webVersion.pdf [23 April, 2014]. Zander, M., (2007) ‘a Touch of Bias’ New Law Journal, Volume 157, Issue 7295. Cases Condron v UK (2000) 31 EHRR 1 Jubilee Line K.M. Nanavati v State of Maharashtra 1959 How to cite Discuss the drawback of the jury system as it is implemented in the UK, Essay examples

Not the EndBut the Beginning Essay Example For Students

Not the EndBut the Beginning Essay I closed my eyes and gripped the blade tightly in my shaking hand, taking in a deep breath, trying to hold back my tears. I pressed the point firmly into my wrist and exhaled as I made a nice, clean cut among many other now faded scars. As I opened my eyes to watch the blood ooze from the new line in my arm, the waterfall of tears poured out, taking my black eyeliner and mascara down my cheeks with them. All the pain and stress of the day that built up inside me, was released with the blood. The burning in my arm took away from the agony burning inside my heart. I longed for death. I longed for the feeling of nothing. All the grief lifted off my shoulders and my spirit set free. I watched with a grin as the thick red fluid dripped to the floor. I imagined each drop as every bad thought that ever crossed my mind. As every person who refused to sit next to me in class, or even talk to me. As every heartbreak I ever had the misfortune of going through. All of the negative inside me trickled down to the ground. My thoughts were shattered as I felt my wrist burning more than usual. I looked down at the mess as my blood gushed out. I hadnt realized how deep I had gone. I had never gone this deep before. I dropped the blade and held my wrist trying to get the blood to stop. I didnt know what to do. I was losing so much blood. I knew this was the end. My floor was soaked in the red liquid and all I could do was sit there and watch as my life drained out of me. I grabbed my pill bottle and, with a shaky breath, swallowed every pill in the bottle. I didnt want to wait until I ran out of blood. This would be faster. I closed my eyes and imagined what my parents would say when they found me. Would they be surprised? They never even knew I was a cutter. Would they even care? I breathed out a sigh. A sigh of both fear and relief. It was finally over. I had longed for this day for many years. Deaths sting had finally got its hold on me. I wasnt expecting for this to be the end, but I was glad it was finally time. No more pain. No more having to pretend I was okay when inside I felt like my life was already over, there was no hope left. I crawled through the puddle of red that now surrounded me and obtained the suicide letter that I had written many months ago. It was folded up and stashed inside the journal I kept. It read, If you havent noticed the scars on my wrists, or the fake smile I live with, or the forced laugh that Ive adopted, or the way that I dont care about the things I used to love, then dont you dare stand at my grave and cry. How can you cry for someone you didnt even know? Not your average suicide letter. But it was all I had to say to the people I was leaving behind in this messed-up world. I stared down at the scars permanently etched into my skin. Each one with its own painful memory; each its own battle scar of a loss I encountered. It had become a daily routine. When I felt as if I couldnt cry anymore, I forced my skin to cry instead. My brain flooded with terrible memories of every second of every day. I thought back to grade 3, the first time I got called ugly. I wept for hours. In grade 5, some kids taped a sign to my desk that read, Beware of dog. From that day forward, I became the quiet kid in the back of class. When I was 13, I cut for the first time. I remember it clearly. I was walking home from school when the girl who hated me since elementary school drove by and called me the b word and threw her Taco Bell wrappers at me that had sauce, and cheese still on them. .u736789e5503168e65e632e94b37b4689 , .u736789e5503168e65e632e94b37b4689 .postImageUrl , .u736789e5503168e65e632e94b37b4689 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u736789e5503168e65e632e94b37b4689 , .u736789e5503168e65e632e94b37b4689:hover , .u736789e5503168e65e632e94b37b4689:visited , .u736789e5503168e65e632e94b37b4689:active { border:0!important; } .u736789e5503168e65e632e94b37b4689 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u736789e5503168e65e632e94b37b4689 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u736789e5503168e65e632e94b37b4689:active , .u736789e5503168e65e632e94b37b4689:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u736789e5503168e65e632e94b37b4689 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u736789e5503168e65e632e94b37b4689 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u736789e5503168e65e632e94b37b4689 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u736789e5503168e65e632e94b37b4689 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u736789e5503168e65e632e94b37b4689:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u736789e5503168e65e632e94b37b4689 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u736789e5503168e65e632e94b37b4689 .u736789e5503168e65e632e94b37b4689-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u736789e5503168e65e632e94b37b4689:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: What Is Truth? EssayI dont know what I did to her to make her hate me so much, but when I got home, and looked in the mirror at my puffy eyes, I understood. I have hated myself ever since. I started therapy in 8th grade and had a personality made up of tests and pills. Every time I came home from school with splotchy make-up, my parents would tell me to get over it. As if depression is something that can be remedied by any of the contents found in a first-aid kit My brain jumped to the idea that no one would stand at my funeral and weep. I never let anyone in to get to know the real me. Not because I didnt want to, but because I was scared. Scared of being judged by the way I look. Scared of coming to trust someone and having them rip my heart out, tear in into a million pieces and set it on fire. I was scared because it happened before. I pushed my friends away because one person ruined my outlook on all relationships. The one person I had ever told my deepest secrets. The one person I thought would always be there. Would always love me, just the way I am. And I was stupid enough to love him back. I thought he would be the one to change my emptiness inside. I should have known I would never mean a thing to him. I should have known I would end up on my bedroom floor, blood gushing out from the cut I made in my wrist, over a boy who will never love me the way I love him. I now understand why they say never to put everything you have into one person, because if they leave, you have nothing. I never knew that someone could make me feel like the most amazing person alive, then leave without a second glance. Am I really that easy to forget? Society says to follow your heart but if your heart is shattered into a million little pieces, which piece do you follow? That is why I wont let anyone in anymore and I push everyone who loves me away. I cant go through that again. The only way I knew to release the pain of heartbreak and loneliness that built up underneath my skin, was to open it and let it pour out. Not what my therapist suggested, but what did she know? She told me it would be okay. Yeah, because its not happening to you, was all I thought. I never opened up to her in my four years of going there; she had no idea what I was going through. I had always wondered if other people knew what it was like to look in the mirror and despise what they saw. To wish they were somebody else. To loath themselves. I doubted it. All the people I had ever met were perfectly content with their lives. If someone bothered to notice I was sad they would tell me to just be happy. Like I choose to just be depressed all the time. Someone once asked me what it was like to be depressed. I looked at them through the hair that hid my face and explained, Depression is like a tornado, theres nothing you can do but sit and wait, and finally when the storm is overyou are left with the destruction. The scars on your body, the puffy eyes from crying, the exhaustion from fighting a losing battle, its consuming. I tried to push away the memories and come back to the present. When I came back into reality, I was lying on a gurney with paramedics rushing me to the ambulance outside my house. I heard one of them say, Failed suicide attempt. I heard my mother crying out to me and my father yelling at her to let the professionals handle it. Flashing lights lit up the dark neighborhood and people were watching from their front yards. At that moment, I knew it wasnt over.