Suicide in Korea

I recently watched a short documentary about suicide in Korea.

South Korea has the highest suicide rate among developed nations. Somewhere around 40 South Koreans kill themselves everyday. The country experienced tremendous growth in the late 20th century but somehow it led to increased suicide rates. During its development, South Korea invested in schools and raised the country on the platform of education. Academic under-performance is in some ways a failure to the nation. Around the world, Korea is known for its academic scrutiny. However, there has to be something beyond this to explain suicide. We don't see Americans killing themselves when they don't attain the "American dream". The documentary address another potential explanation.

Asian cultures in general place great importance in the value of community (as opposed to individualism). In asian countries, and especially in South Korea, the whole is more important than its parts. Because of this, the sense of belonging is extremely important for individuals in these cultures. The feeling of not belonging to the national identity can be a source of depression and extreme anxiety. Korea, having adopted education as part of its national identity, has set a high bar for "belonging". However, this is seen in other areas of Korean culture. There is also a very high number of plastic surgeries done in the country (especially in the eyes and nose). This trend is also related to suicide. The bar to "fitting in" goes increasingly beyond the reach of the average person and this leads to increased despair and suicides.

First!

So, I'm thinking of using this as an excuse for creative writing. That said, everything I was writing felt weird, so I just forced out a random allegory/tragedy so I could just practice a bit without thinking.

It has a tree in it.

          

The Tree

          Where the Green Man trod the forest sprang to life and all manner of beasts and plants named him Father. But one day the Green Man took from himself his own seed and plunged it deep into the earth. He called forth all who knew his voice and spoke out to his children, “THIS ONE WILL GROW TO CHANGE THE VERY FACE OF THE EARTH!” and with that he departed.

           All of the forest treated the Seed with utmost reverence, and with time the Seed became the Tree. But the Tree was not like the other trees. The Tree grew higher, wider, and swifter than all others, and it was the pride of the forest. Soon the Tree was the largest in the land and its bounty was for all. The Tree blessed the beasts with endless fruit, provided its branches and leaves as shelter for those in need, and offered protection and knowledge to all in its dominion. All was prosperous and good under the Tree... but as it reached for the heavens,  its shadow grew evermore.

           From under the shadow came Sprout. Sprout, who grew smaller and weaker than all others, but called out with a voice that could not be denied. “It is not fair!” he would cry, “It is not fair that I shall never grow as tall as I could! Not fair that I know not the brilliance of the sky and the sun!  For the Tree takes in too much for himself!”

The Tree heard Sprout and it heard the soft murmurs of the forest. So he spoke out to Sprout.

           “Dear Sprout, my growth is for the good of all. I provide protection and peace to all that dwell under me. What I do is more than you ever could. Is it not enough that I provide you enough light between my branches that you may live? Can you not bear to sacrifice a bit of yourself?”

           Sprout twirled in silence and the Tree turned away thinking the matter resolved. But Sprout's words sprang up once more.

           “Tyrant.” he whispered, trembling with rage.

           “What did thou say?” the Tree exclaimed in shock, “Thou dares to insult me? The only child of the Green Man?”

           “We are all children of the Green Man!” Sprout shouted. “What else can we call you? You who stifle us under the guise of protection. Who basks in the glory and leaves us at the mercy of your whims. When will you be satisfied, oh great Tree? Will you not rest till the entire world lies beneath your shadow? TYRANT!”

           The Tree stood silent and regarded Sprout, his contempt evident in the slow shaking of his mighty branches. The Tree turned to face all of the others in the forest.
           “I am the Tree, and the Tree doth not lie. All I do, I do for your sake”. And the forest was silent.

           But as the days passed the Tree could not forget Sprout's words and wherever it looked it saw discontent and anger in the faces of those in its forest. Then, from the silence came a whisper.

“Tyrant” hissed the Sprout. The Tree ignored it, and continued its duties. But everyday Sprout grew louder, and everyday more turned away from the Tree and gathered around Sprout. At last, the Tree resolved to do what it had never done before and decided to remove a life for the good of the forest. So the Tree tightened its branches over Sprout, and Sprout was shrouded in utter darkness. The forest watched as Sprout withered away, and soon after it was no longer one voice, but many that mixed together and echoed  “Tyrant.” all around the Tree.

           The Tree tried to do as it had done before, but no more did the animals clamor for its fruits or seek out its shelter. The Tree let more sun come through its branches, even creating whole new clearings in full view of the sky. But no beasts would come near the clearings, and the obstinate plants grew away from the offered sun. And the Tree knew that it was alone and hardened its heart.

           When the forest came together to declare that they had decided to kill the Tree for the good of all, the Tree already knew. For the Tree saw and heard all in its shadow. The Tree shook with rage and refused to defend himself to the forest, for the forest was no longer his. First the animals attacked the Tree with all they had, but the Tree was stronger. It hardened its bark harder than the toughest stone and grew spikes so that none could climb it. It dropped fruited laced with noxious poison to contaminate everything they touched upon falling. But what began as righteousness fury soon grew tiresome for the Tree. For no matter how much time would pass, the forest would not give up its pointless assault. So the Tree turned away from that which lay under him and instead turned towards the simple purity of the sun and simply grew. The Tree grew upwards faster than it had ever done before and grew its leaves and branches thicker and wider as to block out all that was below from its notice. And soon the sounds below him vanished and there was silence once more.

           The Tree grew lonely and tired as time rolled on, but it dared not look down for fear of the hatred and anger ever present in his thoughts. But then came a great rain which poured for days on end.  The Tree was happy thinking it just more energy to use to reach up towards the sun, but then it felt a shudder far down at the very bottom of its body. This disturbance grew in scale until it reverberated through its entire being, and to its amazement, the Tree found itself falling down. And down. And down.

           The crash was great indeed, and the land itself erupted into the sky. But even so, the Tree found that it was still alive and only needed to be put upright so it could grow once more.

           “Anyone!” the Tree shouted, “Please! If you would only help me up, I could leave you again!”

But as the dust from the crash settled the Tree cried at what he saw. For around him stretching as far as his shadow had reached was a desolate field of blackened death, and the forest that he had once loved had long since decayed in darkness and sorrow. And the Tree saw that without the forest to hold together the earth, the rain had washed away its very foundations. So the Tree cried out to the sky and realized that it had been only a tree after all. 
          Days passed. 
          The tree died.

Fin