Act Five
Act
Five Scene One
Sub
Scene One
A
gravedigger’s conversation.
There
can be no doubt that intentionally killing oneself is a sin. The Sixth
Commandment clearly states, “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13), and suicide
is murdering oneself. Yet we should not be quick to condemn a person who dies
in this manner, the person who commits suicide often has been dealing with
these issues secretly, the depth of his or her struggle known only to himself
or herself.
Could
God extend mercy, even to a believer who takes his or her life? After all, a
believer certainly knows that suicide is wrong. Consider what the Psalms show
about the character of God: “For as the heavens are high above the earth, so
great is His mercy toward those who fear Him” (Psalm 103:11). The Bible even
weighs mercy against judgment, concluding that “mercy triumphs over judgment” (James
2:13).
(https://lifehopeandtruth.com/life/life-after-death/what-does-the-bible-say-about-suicide/)
It’s
not entirely shared by all.
At
a personal plot of land near Elsinore Castle, two men were hard at work;
digging a deep hole in the ground for the grave of named Ophelia.
“Is
she to be buried in Christian burial, when she willfully seeks her self-salvation?”
The gravedigger name as Abot stopped then the digging. He was leaning on the
shovel taking in deep breaths. He wore dark blue work overall over his blue
tunic.
“I
tell thee she is. Therefore make her grave straight. The crowner hath sat on
her and finds it Christian burial.” The other named Castello was still digging
and had on the orange shade overall, over his white tunic. He had his bowler
hat on the side of the grave site.
“Straight?
It was always done that way. Had I ever dug a grave crooked?” Albert felt his
works were done with the over forty graves he had dug in the county, including
Norway.
“Tell
it to one at Holly. You dug deep and it was narrow at the head.” Castello
reminded the other.
“That
was Mary Bottoms; she held a wider butt than most. I had to adjust for her.”
“Yup,
you did and the priest almost fell in along.” Albert defended his action. “Not
all of us were the same.”
“Bless
thee, Mary. Albert gave you a bigger dug to lay in.” Castello laughed. “As he
had laid his head into yours.”
“Hold
on to that, Castello. Let us talk about it here. I heard she was …. How can
that be unless she drowned
herself in her defense? No decent Christian will do that. It’s a sin.”
“Why,
’tis found so. Are you the Coroner now to determine the cause of death?”
Castello stopped digging. “Or a priest now?”
“It
must be se offended; it cannot be else. For here lies the point: if I drown
myself wittingly, it argues an act, and an act hath three branches—it is
to act, to do, to perform. Argal, she drowned herself wittingly.”
“Will
you dig now? I am doing more than my share here.” Castello cut in.
“I
will…” Albert replied but his shovel remained leaned on.
“Nay,
but hear you, goodman delver—” Castello wanted to finish the dig.
“Give
me leave. Here lies the water; good. Here stands the man; good. If the man
goes to this water and drowns himself, it is (will he, nill he) he goes; mark
you that. But if the water comes to him and drowns him, he drowns not himself.
Argal, he that is not guilty of his death shortens not his own life.”
“Is
this the law?” Castello was getting irritated. “Albert, she died and we dig.
They bury her here.”
“Ay,
but look at the coroner’s law first.” Albert was into the mood to present his
case.
“Will
you ha’ the truth on ’t? If this had not been a gentlewoman, she should have
been buried out o’ Christian burial?” Castello was not a follower of the
faith; Sunday mass had not his attendance.
“Why,
there thou sayst. And the more pity that great folk should have countenance in
this world to drown or hang themselves more than their even Christian. Come, my
spade. There are no ancient gentlemen but gardeners, ditchers, and grave-makers.
They hold up Adam’s profession.”
“Was
he a gentleman? Bloody good Adam did for us,” Albert said. “If he had not done
it, maybe we won’t be doing this today. It was said that the first to be at the
garden, and Adam may have tended to the growth there. He probably got bored and
complained to God, thus Eve was created and gifted the term ‘housewife’ or
later ‘servant’. A woman need not deny their purpose of existence.” Castello
was into his sarcastic remarks. “My dead mother once said; your father knew not
of digging with his arms. It was she who tended the garden then. As most women
do.”
“What, art a heathen? How dost thou
understand the scripture?” Albert himself a devout follower of the Book chided
at Castella. “The scripture says, Adam dug. Could he dig without arms? I’ll put
another question to thee. If thou answerest me not to the purpose, confess
thyself.”
“My confess? I would if there was a
pint for me, but I will do as you asked. Go to!” Castello smiled.
“What is he that builds stronger
than either the mason, the shipwright, or the carpenter?” Albert asked.
“The gallows-maker; for that frame
outlives a thousand tenants. Even the rope may snap on long use, but never
the gallows platform.” Castello smiled. “Ask the pirates; they hung many from
it.”
“I like thy wit well, in good
faith. The gallows do well. But how does it well? It does well to those that do
ill. Now, thou dost ill to say the gallows is built stronger than the church.
Argal, the gallows may do well to thee. Your turn to ask.”
“I know not what to ask,” Castella
said.
“Cudgel thy brains no more about
it, for your dull ass will not mend his pace with beating. And, when you are
asked this question next, say “a grave-maker.” The houses he makes last
till doomsday.” Albert was right. The grave was the one that last forever
unless someone dug it up.
“You lost. Go, get thee in, and
fetch me a stoup of liquor. The Other Man remains open now.” Albert told
Castella. The other climbed out and then marched his way to the tavern nearby.
“And the Gravedigger digs and
sings.
In youth when I did love, did love,
Methought it was very sweet
To contract—O—the time for—a—my behove, 65
O, methought there—a—was nothing—a—meet.” Castalla sang on his march.
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