Feminist scholar commits suicide at 77

Charlotte Observer ^

[Stew Padasso]

Feminist scholar commits suicide at 77

Son says Heilbrun saw her life as `a journey that had concluded'

ROBERT D. MCFADDEN New York Times

Carolyn Heilbrun, a retired Columbia University literary scholar whose extensive writings included pioneering books and essays in the feminist canon and a dozen highly erudite detective novels under the pseudonym Amanda Cross, died at her home in Manhattan on Thursday. She was 77.

Heilbrun, who had written of taking her own life in a 1997 book, "The Last Gift of Time: Life Beyond Sixty," committed suicide, said her son, Robert. She had not been ill, he noted on Friday.

"She wanted to control her destiny, and she felt her life was a journey that had concluded," he said.

Aside from serving as an instructor at Brooklyn College in 1959-1960 and as a visiting lecturer or professor at Yale, Princeton, Swarthmore and other colleges, Heilbrun spent her entire academic career at Columbia, joining the faculty in 1960 as an instructor of English and comparative literature and retiring in 1992 as the Avalon Foundation Professor in the Humanities.

But she was best known as the author of nine scholarly books, including "Toward a Recognition of Androgyny," "Reinventing Womanhood" and "Writing a Woman's Life," and scores of articles that interpreted women's literature from a feminist perspective, and as the author of the Kate Fansler mysteries. Her heroine, like her creator, was a professor of literature and a feminist.

The novels were ostensibly murder mysteries in which the amateur sleuth sometimes sought clues in literary texts and a killer's motives in academic politics. Most were well received by readers, but some critics said the plots were thin and the social commentary thick, and that the real subjects were women's changing social positions, relationships with one another and struggle for independence.

The books offered scathing depictions of academic backbiting, observations on Ivy League social pretensions and thinly veiled, unflattering portraits of Columbia colleagues, including one professor who seemed to have been modeled after the writer Lionel Trilling.

Fearing that her mystery writing might be seen by colleagues as frivolous and might even jeopardize her chances for tenure, Heilbrun concealed the identity of Amanda Cross for six years. In 1964 her first novel, "In the Last Analysis," was nominated for an Edgar Award by the Mystery Writers of America. "Winning would have blown my cover," she recalled.

But after the 1970 publication of "Poetic Justice," with its recognizable depiction of Columbia University's atmosphere after the student revolt of the late 1960s, Heilbrun's friends began to guess that she might be Amanda Cross. Her novels included "The James Joyce Murder," "Death in a Tenured Position," "No Word from Winifred" and "The Puzzled Heart."

Heilbrun graduated from Wellesley College in 1947 with a bachelor's degree in English. She was married in 1945 to James Heilbrun, a Harvard student who became a professor of economics at Fordham University. Enrolling in graduate school at Columbia, Heilbrun received a master's degree in 1951 and a doctorate in 1959. In addition to her son, of Brooklyn, and her husband, she is survived by two daughters, Margaret Heilbrun of Brooklyn, and Emily Heilbrun of Eugene, Ore., and two grandchildren.

[strela]

My condolences to Ms. Heilbrun's family.

[Thebaddog]

Was her husband consulted in her decision?

[11B3]

Another one from Wellesley. Figures. Selfish to the end.

[jocon307]

WOW, thanks for this scoop. Wait'll I tell my friend, she's been rather a fan of the Amanda Cross books. I, myself, found the one I read rather pretentious, and certainly tendentious, but not the worst murder mystery I ever read.

Too bad for this lady and her family.

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[Apple Pan Dowdy]

"She wanted to control her destiny, and she felt her life was a journey that had concluded..."

It seems to me that she lived her life for HERSELF only. The article says that "In addition to her son, of Brooklyn, and her husband, she is survived by two daughters, Margaret Heilbrun of Brooklyn, and Emily Heilbrun of Eugene, Ore., and two grandchildren." Don't they matter at all to her? Is her "journey" over now simply because she perceives her career over? Does she feel no responsibility at all for contributing to the "journies" OF THE REST OF HER FAMILY?

I guess not, but then isn't that the way of all feminist?

[johniegrad]

"She wanted to control her destiny, and she felt her life was a journey that had concluded," he said.

Stubbornly refusing to acknowledge other possibilities right up to the end.

[WorkingClassFilth]

For Heilbrun's family, my condolences. A suicide is always a final pain they alone are left to endure.

For Heilbrun - good night, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite.

For feminists and lefties at Columbia and all other points of the compass - keep the suicide with dignity component of your ideology front and center. You need more heroes (or heroines, in this case) to lead the way. Remember, the tremulous drops and trickles of today's willing self-snuffers may someday become a glorious, raging torrent of courageous lefties killing themselves in a flaming red finale.

What a glorious day that will be.

[blanknoone]

It is the logical conclusion to an anti-life life.

Maybe we could convince some current Columbia professors to join her...

[Porterville]

....

[Servant of the 9]

It seems to me that she lived her life for HERSELF only.

We all do, though most won't admit it.

We may claim to be living to help others, but in fact that is a role we play only because it makes us feel best.

"Noble selflessness" or "Devotion to God's Will" are just smarmey faces we put on our real reasons, to fool others and to fool ourselves.

So9

[davisfh]

"Remember, the tremulous drops and trickles of today's willing self-snuffers may someday become a glorious, raging torrent of courageous lefties killing themselves in a flaming red finale.

What a glorious day that will be."

Amen! And might I add, what took her so long?

[AndyJackson]

We all do, though most won't admit it. Oh BS. We are all a mixture of selfishness, altruism, lust, courage, rage, temperance and all of the rest of the noble virtues and ignoble vices. It is how you develop your character to balance these and plot a course through life that matters.

[freedumb2003]

Heilbrun, who had written of taking her own life in a 1997 book, "The Last Gift of Time: Life Beyond Sixty," committed suicide, said her son, Robert. She had not been ill, he noted on Friday.

Not too far from this:

[Wondervixen]

Those of us who were never indoctinated by Wellesley brand feminism, but by our PARENTS and GRANDPARENTS (both of my Grandfathers were members of the clergy) were taught that suicide is the most tragic of sins, because if it is truly successful, the sinner cannot ask God for his forgiveness from it and will DEFINATELY meet Satan and his lake of fire.

Don't care for that analysis?

Neither do the Hollyweirdo socialists & liberals who want rid of G.W. Bush and his moral example.

There's your bottom line for the emotion known as Liberal Hatred!

[ChadGore]

Wow. So very well said:

It is the logical conclusion to an anti-life life.

[SwinneySwitch]

"She wanted to control her destiny, and she felt her life was a journey that had concluded," he said."

Carolyn was Wrong! Prayers for family and friends.

[Lady Jag]

Typical Liberal

No Balls

[toddst]

What you said! Excellent response to such drivel.

Its very sad to see someone inflict such extreme pain on their family by committing suicide. Based on personal experience I believe all of those family members, plus others she knew, will carry deep scars the rest of their lives.

[bray]

She can consider herself a very late term abortion. Some heroine?

Pray for GW and the Truth

[abclily]

I was thinking that she must have had a very empty life, but your anti-life life phrase describes her journey exactly.

[abclily]

There is no good in any of us?

[JoJo Gunn]

Can't help but notice your use of the words "indoctrinated" and "definitely" in the same paragraph.

Have you ever lost a family member to suicide? If so, did you ever wonder that maybe God knew a long time ago that he/she was going to suffer, going past "the point of no return"? Is God so cranky, so vain, so full of Himself, that He demands forgiveness of lowly and imperfect humans? Does God, having knowledge of us before we're even born, forgive us then?

[wiseone]

She had not been ill” ....what a self centered end to a typical feminist hypocrites life!

When so many are sick with cancer,and diseases, this narcissist, hypocrit,kills herself, too bad all of the dykes and the rest of NOW man haters don't follow her example!

[lawdude]

"... but then isn't that the way of all feminist?"

I am surprised she had children. Seems to me that most feminists believe the act of procreation is repulsive and unseemly. She must have been raped!

[Lady Jag]

Notice how, not only did her children move away, the girls, now likely 40-50 years old, never got married.

[MinuteGal]

A middle-aged business couple I knew committed suicide by fumes in their garage. They had gone to great pains to make things "easy" for their grown children.

Wills were taken care of, all important documents were laid out on their dining room table along with instructions for burial. They took months of secret preparation for slipping away quietly and with "dignity", according to the note left.

The pain and agony their family went through remains to this day and the wrenching scars will never go away. It gives one the creeps just to pass by their garage attached to their house, now long occupied by strangers.

Some "dignity".

Leni

[nravoter]

...if [the suicide attempt] is truly successful, the sinner cannot ask God for his forgiveness from it and will DEFINATELY meet Satan and his lake of fire.

What about someone who's killed some other way before they can ask for forgiveness for their various sins? Someone killed in a car accident while angry at their neighbor, or who dies in their sleep after having lustful thoughts the night before will "DEFINITELY meet Satan and his lake of fire"?

[Servant of the 9]

There is no good in any of us?

Self sacrifice is good, as long as we understand that we are doing it because it is what makes us feel best, not because we are noble or caring.

So9

[VOA]

Heilbrun graduated from Wellesley College in 1947 with a bachelor's degree in English.

Well, if this is the feminist activist approach to an estrogenized take on
Sinatra/Anka's "My Way".....
who am I to tell them to stop, beyond saying "uh, my Christian background tells
me you are making a mistake, but you do have free will to screw up.".

[Servant of the 9]

She had not been ill” ....what a self centered end to a typical feminist hypocrites life!

When so many are sick with cancer,and diseases, this narcissist, hypocrit,kills herself, too bad all of the dykes and the rest of NOW man haters don't follow her example!

I have never understood why good Christians are so afraid to die.
Why do they fight so desperately to keep from going to a better place?
Why do they fear death so much they are enraged when someone else is rational enough to chose it?
Could it be that their faith is weak? Real Christian martyrs accepted death gladly when it came as a release.

So9

[VOA]

The pain and agony their family went through remains to this day and the wrenching
scars will never go away.

How sad.
Maybe the couple had what they thought were good reasons, maybe one had a
lethal, painfully prolonged illness and the other couldn't forsee life without the mate.

All the eventual moral judgement belongs to a higher power.
But most suicides I've known should have had someone tell them:
1. Your life isn't all (just) about you.
2. Ever hear of "the law of unintended consequences"
3. Think it over for a day, week or better yet, a month before you make up your mind.
4. Ever hear about a guy named Diesel? No, not the actor. He threw himself off
a ship and apparently committed suicide due to problems with his real estate investment.
Soon there after his patent claims to a type of engine bearing his name was approved...
and his family had more money than they knew how to spend.

5. Thinking of suicide due to someone who advises it, or has made your life hell?
Try changing your outlook and/your life situation.
If it still sucks, you can still do the deed.

[Wondervixen]

Hard question to answer, nravoter, but let me try it without actually preaching...I'll try this through the science of theology, though I'll admit I'm not deeply enough versed in it to speak for absolute certain.

Suicide is a premeditated act...She PLANNED to do it, proceeded through whatever steps of the method she chose, and with success, completed the task right in front of God's eyes with no concern for her mortal soul...A definate "IN YOUR FACE" to her creator.

Yeah, she controlled her own destiny all right.

Like I said above, for the other cases you mentioned, it's a debate for scholored theologists. We are told that no sin shall enter into the gates of Heaven (though I can't actually find that exact quote in the Bible). That means, roughly, whatever clothing you're wearing when you arrive, sneaking through any "contraband" hidden in the lining is forbidden, and you can't shed "the suit" once you're there. Trust me, St. Peter's sensors and metal detectors will catch it all...They're flawless!!!

I believe Jesus died to wash away our sins, and this is the subject of debate...Does his dying on the cross mean that even righteous men who have accepted him as their savior have an insurance policy in case they MIGHT commit a sin and before having any chance to ask forgiveness, lose their life through some accident?

I'd think that any unasked-for forgiveness by a devoted Christian for a sin committed "in the heat of the moment" would have to deal with intent of the heart, and that can only be truly known by God himself.

[VOA]

Why do they fight so desperately to keep from going to a better place?

(Fair warning: the following comments are based on exposure to Christian doctrine...
not on any institutional training...)

Part of the Judeo-Christian mood against suicide (and abortion) is based on
the "choose life" passage in one of the later chapters of Deuteronomy.
Plus, passionate Christians have a sense of mission in this life and know they
will depart for their reward when the time is chosen by a higher power.
Until then they do, as well as they can as fallible humans, to do good. This includes
empathizing with other seeing the end of their days.

Why do they fear death so much they are enraged when someone else is rational enough to chose it?
Could it be that their faith is weak?

There are a number of factors here.
The thought that someone is rational enough to chose suicide when NOT ill or in
inordinate pain simply doesn't fit with the Christian view that (aside from the
right to self-defense and the action of governmental forces), the ending of a life before
a non-provoked ("natural") death is not in accordance with their view that a higher
power will choose the time, place and manner of departure.

Real Christian martyrs accepted death gladly when it came as a release.
Yes, but they are not instructed to provoke it.
IIRC, they were commissioned to spread their message, but if it isn't accepted,
to "shake the dust" of that town off their feet and move on.
At the same time, they may present their message and be thrown into jail, judged and
executed for their trouble. Someone may say that they "provoked" their death,
but that wasn't the mission...the mission was to present their message.
But sometimes, that will elicit an action that the audience is responsible for...
i.e., killing the messenger.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

Actually, that is key question of mankind. Is man basically good or basically evil? The answer is: All men and women are evil and lost without the salvation of a faith in Jesus Christ. There is not a good human on the earth - only those who have escaped certain judgment by faith and faith alone. Nobody can work their way into heaven by the skin of their teeth.

[kitkat]

***"Noble selflessness" or "Devotion to God's Will" are just smarmey faces we put on our real reasons, to fool others and to fool ourselves.***

The human need to protect ourselves is a primal one. Which would you prefer, somone who makes sacrifices for others in order to make themselves feel better, or one who is totally without any self concern?

Remember, before you answer, that a person with NO self concern is a person who is totally dependent on those around him/her. Such a person is a drag on immediate family, acquaintances, etc. So I submit, humbly, since I am not a psychologist, that a little self-concern, especially in one who devotes his/her life to others, is a GOOD thing.

By the way, I've been enjoying your posts.

[Wondervixen]

>>Have you ever lost a family member to suicide?

Yes, I had a cousin who incinerated herself in her house trailer one afternoon while her husband was at work and her children were at school. Just burned it to the ground around her. She was mentally ill, but she'd had the concepts of suicide & Hell explained to her hundreds of times...She'd been trying to off herself since high school for attention, making only a couple of semi-serious attempts. She actually seemed to have grown out of it after not having tried for several years, but depression will eat you alive when you're completely unwilling to accept God's loving hand to lift you from it.

She was just allowed by her mother and (divorced) father to "be herself" while growing up, yet, what did she do? She sought identity from others and found it in the "goth" group at school...Burning candles...Listening to "Black" (not racial, but Satanic) Rock Music groups & artists...Worshipping the Prince of Darkness (though swearing that PoD & Satan weren't the same thing)...Counting herself as a member of W.I.T.C.H. (Womens International Terrorist Conspiracy from Hell)...ALL before joining the real world and getting her first taste of "Do you want fries with that?" jobs.

Yes, she was mentally ill, but it was an illness of her own doing...Something she could have pulled herself out of if she'd chosen to believe in God rather than the Barbra Streisand being fed to her by the peers she chose to associate with. Suicide's roots are the furthest possible thing from Christianity, and as such, the ticket it punches for you is the furthest possible destination from Heaven.

[abclily]

So, you're saying we don't really care about anyone except ourselves? People lay down their lives for others because it makes them feel good?

[Free Vulcan]

At least till your 4 year old daughter says 'Daddy...' Then things change a little.

[The Grammarian]

I have never understood why good Christians are so afraid to die. Why do they fight so desperately to keep from going to a better place? Why do they fear death so much they are enraged when someone else is rational enough to chose it? Could it be that their faith is weak? Real Christian martyrs accepted death gladly when it came as a release.

Real Christian martyrs never sought death. They just welcomed it with welcome arms when it came as a result of persecution of their faith.

[livius]

Remember, the tremulous drops and trickles of today's willing self-snuffers may someday become a glorious, raging torrent of courageous lefties killing themselves in a flaming red finale.

Great suggestion. Although as a Christian, I'm kind of ashamed of myself for liking the idea so much!

[Justa]

"Self sacrifice is good, as long as we understand that we are doing it because it is what makes us feel best, not because we are noble or caring."

So like when I help someone say, fix a car or boat or something I'm actually doing it for myself? What a concept.

I'm guessing you're one of those people who never flush public toilets.

[MinuteGal]

Thanks for your interesting post. Yes, the husband had cancer, but was still active in community affairs and running his home-delivery cleaning service around town.

His wife was perfectly healthy. Perhaps new cancer treatment might have contained his cancer if he had waited. But to enter a suicide pact with the wife boggles my mind. She didn't believe she could ever live without him.

They were in their 60's, a delightful educated couple, were active in community affairs and in the local Republican organizations. They told me years before their demise that they were atheists, although they kept mum on this pretty much.

Leni

[DLfromthedesert]

How cynical and anti-Goldwater.

[Sofa King]

Jesus himself told God that he didn't want to be nailed to the crucifix, but that he was merely accepting his father's will.

[F.J. Mitchell]

Well said, Andy.

By the way, I have a couple of your pictures in my wallet. I am such a fan of yours though that I'd like to paper the walls of my house with your pictures. You don't happen to have a million or so old snap shots you could send me, do you?

[The Grammarian]

Jesus himself told God that he didn't want to be nailed to the crucifix, but that he was merely accepting his father's will.

There is debate on whether Jesus was referring to the cross as "this cup," or the afflictions he was bearing while in Gethsemane when he was weeping tears "as of blood."

[Sofa King]

I was talking about when he was praying in the guardian right before he was arrested.

[Sofa King]

That should read "praying in the garden"