Beginning of Essay
What is suicide? "(Suicide is) the act of self-destruction by a person sound in mind and capable of measuring his (or her) moral responsibility" (Webster 1705). "No one really knows why human beings commit suicide. Indeed, the very person who takes his (or ....

Middle of Essay
.... Edna's closest physical brush with death occurs one night at the beach, when the summer residents decide to take a midnight swim. Despite having had a hard time learning to swim, she realizes her ability and swims farther out than she ever had before. She overestimates her power and almost doesn't make it back. She has a "quick vision of death". The experience scares her, but she has tested her limits and survived the sea for a while. Metaphorically, she has come close to death but resisted it. Falling asleep can be associated with the idea of death as well. Whenever Edna falls asleep, it is noted in the story; across the bay at ch ....