Shakespeare: Suicide or Murder? Quiz

Answer: Suicide

"Here's to my love! O true apothecary! Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die." ("Romeo and Juliet", Act V, Scene 3)

Romeo Montague is one of the titular characters in "Romeo and Juliet", a young lover who defies his family's feud with the Capulets to be with Juliet. Their secret marriage sets off a chain of events leading to their tragic deaths. Romeo, mistakenly believing Juliet to be dead, drinks poison next to her "lifeless" body in the Capulet tomb. This tragic misunderstanding leads to the demise of both lovers, bringing together the play's themes of love, fate and the consequences of family conflict. Romeo's death symbolises the tragic end of the star-crossed lovers, victims of their families' long-standing feud. Romeo's impulsive actions and unyielding love for Juliet drive the story to its heartbreaking conclusion.

Answer: Suicide

"I have immortal longings in me: now no more the juice of Egypt's grape shall moist this lip." ("Antony and Cleopatra", Act V, Scene 2)

Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt, is one of the central figures in "Antony and Cleopatra". After the defeat of her lover Mark Antony and facing capture by Octavian (the future Roman Emperor Augustus), Cleopatra chooses to end her life rather than be paraded as a trophy. She arranges for an asp (a venomous snake) to be brought to her, allowing it to bite her, thus ensuring a swift and dignified death. Cleopatra's suicide, while tragic, also symbolises her ultimate control over her destiny. Her death scene is one of Shakespeare's most poignant depictions of royal defiance and tragic romance.

Answer: Suicide

"The queen, my lord, is dead." ("Macbeth", Act V, Scene 4)

Lady Macbeth is one of Shakespeare's most complex characters, known for her ambition and ruthlessness. In "Macbeth", she is the driving force behind Macbeth's rise to the throne, urging him to murder King Duncan. As the play progresses, she is driven mad by the weight of her crimes. Lady Macbeth, consumed by guilt for her role in the murder of King Duncan and the events that followed, eventually takes her own life. Although her death is not depicted on stage, it is reported in the final act of Macbeth. Lady Macbeth's tragic end highlights the theme of guilt and its corrosive effect on the human psyche. Her off-stage death emphasises the isolation and inner turmoil she faces as a result of her actions.

Answer: Suicide

"Farewell, good Strato. Caesar, now be still: I kill'd not thee with half so good a will." ("Julius Caesar", Act V, Scene 5)

Marcus Brutus, a senator and close friend to Julius Caesar, is torn between his loyalty to Caesar and his duty to Rome. In "Julius Caesar", Brutus joins the conspiracy to assassinate Caesar, believing it to be for the greater good. After the defeat at the Battle of Philippi, Brutus chooses to end his life rather than be captured. He asks his friend Strato to hold his sword while he impales himself. Brutus's death underscores his stoic philosophy and commitment to Rome, making him a tragic hero who prioritizes his principles over personal loyalty.

Answer: Suicide

"Yea, noise? Then I'll be brief. O happy dagger! This is thy sheath: there rust, and let me die." ("Romeo and Juliet", Act V, Scene 3)

Juliet Capulet, the other half of the tragic duo in "Romeo and Juliet", is a young woman whose love for Romeo defies the expectations and animosities of her family. When she awakens from a potion-induced sleep, she finds Romeo dead beside her, having ingested poison. In despair, she uses Romeo's dagger to stab herself and seals the tragic fate of the star-crossed lovers. Juliet's death completes the couple's tragic arc and, like Romeo's, is a powerful commentary on the destructive nature of family conflict and the intensity of youthful love. Their deaths ultimately reconcile their warring families, albeit at great cost.

Answer: Suicide

"I kissed thee ere I killed thee, no way but this, killing myself, to die upon a kiss." ("Othello", Act V, Scene 2)

Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian army, is a tragic figure whose downfall is orchestrated by his deceitful ensign, Iago. In "Othello", his jealousy and insecurity are exploited, leading him to murder his innocent wife, Desdemona. Realising his grave mistake and overcome by guilt and grief, Othello stabs himself and dies next to Desdemona. His suicide is an act of repentance and a poignant acknowledgement of his tragic flaws. Othello's death highlights themes of jealousy, trust and the destructive power of deception, culminating in a deeply tragic resolution.

Answer: Murder

"Die, die, Lavinia, and thy shame with thee; / And with thy shame thy father's sorrow die!" ("Titus Andronicus", Act V, Scene 3)

Titus Andronicus is a Roman general whose life is caught up in a cycle of revenge and violence. In "Titus Andronicus", his daughter Lavinia is brutally assaulted, and in his quest for revenge, Titus serves the perpetrators' sons in a cake to their mother. During the climactic banquet in Act 5, Scene 3, Titus kills his daughter to save her from further disgrace, and is then killed by Saturninus. His death epitomises the extreme and tragic nature of revenge and the brutal consequences of seeking justice through violence. The story of Titus is a grim exploration of the themes of revenge, justice and family honour.

Answer: Murder

"How now! A rat? Dead, for a ducat, dead!" ("Hamlet", Act III, Scene 4)

Polonius, the Lord Chamberlain in "Hamlet", is a verbose and meddlesome character who spies on Prince Hamlet. His habit of eavesdropping leads to his demise when Hamlet, mistaking him for Claudius, stabs him through a curtain in Queen Gertrude's chamber. Polonius' death sets off a chain of tragic events, including Ophelia's madness and death, and Laertes' quest for revenge. The murder of Polonius by Hamlet is a turning point in the play, escalating the conflict and leading to the tragic ending.

Answer: Murder

"And my poor fool is hang'd! No, no, no life! / Why should a dog, a horse, a rat, have life, / And thou no breath at all?" ("King Lear", Act V, Scene 3)

Cordelia, King Lear's youngest and most loyal daughter, is a symbol of goodness and virtue in "King Lear". After Lear disowns her, she returns to lead an army to save him. Captured during the conflict, she is hanged on Edmund's orders. Her death marks the nadir of Lear's tragic journey, emphasising the destructive power of his folly and the tragic consequences of his misguided actions. Cordelia's murder underlines the themes of loyalty, sacrifice and the devastating effects of political ambition and betrayal.

Answer: Murder

"What, you egg! / Young fry of treachery!" ("Macbeth", Act IV, Scene 2)

Lady Macduff, a minor but significant character in "Macbeth", stands in stark contrast to Lady Macbeth. Her murder, along with her children, by Macbeth's assassins is a brutal act that reflects Macbeth's descent into tyranny and paranoia. Their deaths illustrate the collateral damage of Macbeth's ambition and the innocent lives destroyed in his quest for power. Lady Macduff's murder heightens the sense of injustice and the play's exploration of the consequences of unchecked ambition and moral decay.

Answer: Murder

"A plague o' both your houses! They have made worms' meat of me." ("Romeo and Juliet, Act III, Scene 1)

A close friend of Romeo, Mercutio is known for his wit and fiery temper in "Romeo and Juliet". He is fatally wounded by Tybalt in a street brawl while defending Romeo's honour. His death and his famous curse, "A plague on both your houses", foreshadow the tragic fate of Romeo and Juliet. Mercutio's death escalates the conflict between the Montagues and Capulets and brings the play to its tragic conclusion. His demise highlights the senseless violence and devastating effects of the feud on both families.

Answer: Murder

"A guiltless death I die. Nobody, I myself. Farewell. Commend me to my kind Lord. O farewell!" ("Othello", Act V, Scene 2)

Desdemona, Othello's wife, is suffocated by her husband, who has been deceived by Iago into believing that she has been unfaithful. Her murder is the tragic culmination of Othello's jealousy and Iago's manipulation, highlighting the destructive power of deception and mistrust. Desdemona's character represents purity and innocence, and her death underlines the tragic waste of goodness through Othello's misplaced trust in Iago. The emotional intensity of her death scene is heightened by her final moments, in which she forgives Othello and takes the blame. This act of forgiveness and love, even in death, illustrates her profound loyalty and deep sense of love for Othello.