Ancient epic often contained seemingly gratuitious descriptions of physical violence; how is Ovid's graphic depiction of Pyramus' suicide on the other hand, quite essential to the story-line?
Pyramus' suicide is grotesque, violent, and unpleasant. It is described in such lavish detail that the reader is thoroughly disgusted yet drawn in as well. The ugly depiction of the suicide serves to invoke a reader's emotional response to the story. The plot is already foreboding (with the lioness and Thisbe's escape into a dark cave) but Pyramus' tragic death serves to create sympathy for the two lovers even more.
Pyramus' grief-stricken plea of "Accipe nunc, nostri quoque sanguinis haustus!" has much more of an impact when it is followed by a detailed portrayal of an extragavant death. The audience feels much more pathos for the character, and is drawn into the story even more, anticipating yet another dismaying scene as Thisbe discovers the mutilated body of her lover.
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