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Why did Ernest Hemingway kill himself?

How much of it do you think was genetic (family related) and how much of it was related to his biography- i.e. disabilty,alcoholism, travel, love of Marlena Dietrich.?

I figure questions like this don't have just one answer

9 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    In my opinion, two factors.

    In his prime, Hemingway was a ferocious drinker, and for most of his life, he could handle it. He's on record as saying he never once suffered from a hangover.

    But as he got older, all the drinking caught up with him. Any doctor will tell you that alcohol is really a depressant. It affects the mind in strange ways. Towards the end of his life, Hemingway became paranoid, and tried to commit suicide on a number of occasions. In fact, before he did manage to blow his brains out in Idaho, he had been committed to an insane asylum, but had managed to wangle his way out.

    The second factor that contributed to Hemingway's suicide was his temperament.

    One of his famous sayings is, "It's better a day as a lion than a lifetime as a lamb."

    It's a terrific saying, and tells you a lot about the man. Which was that he knew he'd led a fantastic life, and rather than allow his life to drag on aimlessly into old age, he preferred ending it while he was still able.

  • 5 years ago

    How Did Ernest Hemingway Die

  • 1 decade ago

    All I could find was that Hemingway was depressed because his abilities were failing, as far as art and physical health go. Many people who commit suicide are depressed, but not all depressed people commit suicide. But of course, only Hemingway will ever know. In the past 3 years, 4 guys from my high school, 2 of which were in my grade, 1 of which was a friend, committed suicide and we're still trying to figure out why. Suicide is a mystery...

  • 1 decade ago

    Only Hemingway knows for sure but his lifestyle almost certainly contributed to it. Genetically, as I understand it, his family has a strong history of suicide and depression. One of his young granddaughters committed suicide several years ago. In a family with depressive tendencies the practice of drinking alcohol is not very wise as it is also a depressent. Hope this helps a little,

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  • Anonymous
    6 years ago

    This Site Might Help You.

    RE:

    Why did Ernest Hemingway kill himself?

    How much of it do you think was genetic (family related) and how much of it was related to his biography- i.e. disabilty,alcoholism, travel, love of Marlena Dietrich.?

    I figure questions like this don't have just one answer

    Source(s): ernest hemingway kill himself: https://shortly.im/L92HJ
  • 6 years ago

    A lot of atheists kill themselves because they have the idea that there's no meaning to life.

  • 7 years ago

    Ernest Who? My school teacher never mentioned him. I should know I been to 7th grade.

  • 1 decade ago

    Perhaps he was a little bipolar. there is a strong genetic disposition to that disease.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Because the shotgun in his mouth went off.

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