Is the death of a drug addict a "tragedy"?

Flannel Shirt

tragedy

a serious drama typically describing a conflict between the protagonist and a superior force (as destiny) and having a sorrowful or disastrous conclusion that elicits pity or terror
2 a: a disastrous event : calamity b: misfortune
3: tragic quality or element
disaster
2 entries found.

disaster

a sudden calamitous event bringing great damage, loss, or destruction; broadly : a sudden or great misfortune or failure <the party was a disaster>


The conflict is between the user (protagonist) and the superior force (drugs), and the sorrowful OR disastrous conclusion that elicits pity OR terror would be the death of the addict.

Now, from there you can get into the discussion over whether the drugs are really a superior force. For some, I definately believe drug addiction is a "superior force".

Sure its tragic. Someones children no longer have a parent. Someone no longer has a sister, brother, mother, father, uncle, friend, husband, wife, etc. If the fact that these people dont have a loved one around anymore doesnt elicit pity, I dont know what does.

To the families and friends of those close to the addict, its a tragedy. I can appreciate it as a tragedy from the outside looking in as well.

The answer = yes.

sweetpotato

they said today that it is believed that the death was an accident, not suicide, and that it was brought on by mixing two sleep aids. i don't know if that would constitute calling heath ledger a "drug addict". i have no idea why he needed sleep aids, but millions of people use the stuff for various reasons, and i don;t think they're all "drug addicts".

just my opinion.

Foxwell

Jeremy1012 wrote:

Are you, an ex-addict, really equating a person who slips into addiction to Hitler? An addict might have themself to blame but we can still mourn their death as a tragedy. They are not really on the same level of social pariah as Hitler. Be realistic.

I've already addressed this question.

I acknowledge that it was a mistake in rhetoric to mention Hitler and Heath in the same response. But, if you read carefully, you'll understand that what I meant was that not ALL "pre-mature" deaths are tragic.

Someone had argued that it is a tragedy when ANYONE dies before his time and in his prime. This person's definition of "tragedy", to me, seemed myopic.

My use of Hitler as an example was to present a case that would disprove his theory. Once I proved that a pre-mature death isn't necessarily tragic (Hitler died before his time, and we're a better world for it), I could go on to prove my point that an overdose isn't necessarily tragic.

Also, if you had read further into the thread, you would have seen that I acknowledged that I too was being myopic. I was reminded that the tragedy of drug addiction is found in the situation and not always in the individual.

I've learned much from this thread, not the least of which is that people lose their active reading skills when they see the name Hitler. Just because I mention Hitler and Mr. Ledger in the same post doesn't mean I'm making a comparison.

On a positive note, I've also learned that people have a great capacity for compassion and forgiveness...even for people they've never met. This gives me hope.

polaris

i haven't paid too much attention ... but i would look at the pills he was taking ... i don't think heath was a drug addict ...

pills get passed by the FDA these days without the proper testing - i wouldn't be surprised if there was some side effect not accounted for ...

aspoonfulweighsaton

Dying from a drug overdose is about as tragic as guys who die in Nascar or while jumping out of airplanes.

You know exactly what you're getting into and what the risks are, and if you think it's worth it and live to tell the story then good for you.

But if something happens and you die, it may be sad for those that care for you, but it's certainly not "tragic".

It's tragic when a father of a two-year old gets hit by a drunk driver while walking the family dog. Not so much when he wants to get high.

macgyver06

angryyoungman wrote:

ummm. . .romeo and juliet is considered a "tragedy". . .so that blows up that whole theory. . .and make you look not so smart

umm... you are wrong again... its a shakespearean tragedy. much diffent considering


ITS FICTION

angryyoungman

macgyver06 wrote:

umm... you are wrong again... its a shakespearean tragedy. much diffent considering


ITS FICTION

but still a tragedy, as you said. . .if romeo and juliet was non-fictional it would still be a tragedy which was the point. . .so actually you're wrong again