Question about the film "RENT"?

Question

In the song "What You Own", Roger and Mark are singing about lilving in America, then they start stating how bad they're lives are and eventually shout "I quit!" then immediately go into the lines

Dying in America
At the end of the millenium
We're dying in America
To come into our own

While singing this, they are on a rooftop and kind of looking over the edge, but then they see each other and sing @I'm not alone" and walk away from the edge.

My question is, are they (or maybe only Mark) contemplating suicide by jumping off, but then like realising they're not the only ones who feel that way so decide not to.

Sorry if this question is kinda confusing, I don't really know how to put it.

Answer 1

I guess it's one of them open ended questions that's down to personal interpretation. What you feel the lyrics are saying will determine what you belive the characters are feeling/thinking. don't think they were actually contemplating phsyical suicide, just implying that maybe America was? Only a handful of ppl out there know for sure.

Answer 2

I'm pretty sure he was contemplating suicide because things were not going very well for him at that time (with his documentary and inablity to pay the rent). It seemed hard and the lyrics certainly do suggest that.
Most importantly, the fact that they look at each other and say "I quit" really suggests that the bond they have as friends is truly strong and they realize they can get through anything together.
At least that's what I got from the whole ordeal, especially since towards the end Roger goes back after being in Santa Fe and they have a heartfelt reunion.

Answer 3

No, it's not meant to be that they are contemplating suicide; the roof is just a place they go to to get some air, think things through (Roger goes up there to sing 'One Song Glory' earlier on). I think he's just contemplating life.

In the original stage version, there was never any question about Mark and/or Roger throwing themselves off a building during this song, and from listening to the commentary on the DVD, I don't think it was Chris Columbus's intention either. Still, it's cool that it has different connotations for different people.

Answer 4

I always saw it as Mark just over looking the city, yeah he may have been a bit depressed, but I don't think it was meant to infer that Mark contemplated jumping. In the play, at least the one I saw, he was sitting on the edge. Jumpers don't sit.

Answer 5

Maybe in the movie they were trying to portray that.

On stage, there is no rooftop for them to look over contemplating suicide, so it's hard to say if the playwright intended that or not.

Answer 6

It might've been that....maybe only the movie though, because in the play, like many ppl have already sed, Mark sits.....it's most likely a two-sided issue.....there's nothing wrong with thinking that.....but we'll never know for sure, though, since the writer died......R.I.P Jonathan Larson.....

Answer 7

I don't think so. I think he's just looking out at the city. Although, in the musical version, there's a scene that does make me wonder if he's depressed (here: http://forget-regret.net/act2.php#takemeorleaveme)

Answer 8

the whole point or factor in the movie is that they all did drugs and used needles . they werent talking about suicide they have aids and they KNOW they will die soon but they hate having to wait and know but not know

Answer 9

i was wonderin bout that too, i think that mark was gonna and then the other one pretty much showed up and prevented him from doing it

Answer 10

i saw it, never thought it was about suicide. you'd have to ask the creators i guess. everyone can interpret things differently.