title: Four centuries of suicide in opera.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the depiction of completed suicide, non-fatal suicidal acts and suicidal thought in Western opera over the past four centuries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Examination of synopses all of the operas listed in a recent monograph covering a selection of operas written in the period 1607-2006.
  
  
  METHODS
  Frequency of completed suicides, non-fatal suicidal acts and suicidal thoughts over the entire 400-year period and in separate 100-year periods (1607-1706, 1707-1806, 1807-1906 and 1907-2006); circumstances of suicides; sex of the suicidal characters; and, for completed suicide, the method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 337 operas in total. In 112 (33%), there was completed suicide alone, non-fatal suicidal acts or suicidal thoughts alone, or both. There was at least one suicide in 74 operas (22%); female characters accounted for 56% of these. Non-fatal suicidal acts or suicidal thoughts were found in 48 operas (14%); male characters accounted for 57% of these. Suicide, non-fatal acts and suicidal thoughts always followed an undesirable event or situation. Cutting or stabbing was the most common method of suicide (26 cases). Other methods included poisoning (15 cases), drowning (10 cases), hanging (four cases), asphyxiation (four cases), "supernatural" methods (four cases), immolation (three cases), jumping from a height (two cases), shooting (one) and blunt trauma (one). Mass suicide occurred on two occasions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Over several centuries in opera, suicide has been frequently represented as an option when characters have been faced with a distressing event or situation. Historical fluctuations in the frequency of suicidal behaviour in opera may be explained by changes in attitudes towards suicide and its conceptualisation.
authors: University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia. garry.walter@sydney.edu.au.
authors: Saxby A
authors: SA
authors: Pridmore
authors: Hobart, TAS, Australia.
authors: Stephane
authors: S
authors: Auchincloss
authors: Northern Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors: Nerissa L
authors: NL
authors: Soh
authors: Northern Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors: Garry J
authors: GJ
authors: Walter
mesh_terms: D004324:Drama / Q000266:history*; D005260:Female; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D008093:Literature, Modern / Q000266:history*; D008297:Male; D008513:Medicine in Literature; D009146:Music / Q000266:history*; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013405:Suicide / Q000266:history* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000266:history / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019366:Western World / Q000266:history*