Since the spine of Sons Of Anarchy was modeled after the Shakespeare play Hamlet, it was obvious that the FX series was never going to be a happy, rosy story. Bloodshed, betrayal, and heartbreak were the key ingredients, and at the heart of it all was Jax Teller. He was clever, talented, and generally had a good heart, but his life was more sad than happy.

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As the son of a SAMCRO president, Jax was always destined to be part of the gangster lifestyle too. His children could have followed in his footsteps, but he went out of his way to make sure that didn't happen. However, that meant he'd never see them again. But that's just one sad thing about Jax. Here are more things that make his life a tragic tale.

His Love Life Was Far From Perfect

Tara and Jax make out while reading books.

Many women desired Jax, but he was never happy in love. His first love Tara left Charming because she wanted more out of life. Then she came back and the two resumed their relationship. But, Tara kept on wanting to leave Charming again, and Jax strayed from their relationship multiple times. After catching him in the act, Tara even considered ratting on the club.

There was his complicated relationship with Wendy too. Viewers can't help but get the sense that he could have had something real with her were it not for her drug addiction. He spent most of the series fighting with her before finally leaving the kids to her.

Abel's Woes

Abel tells Jax that Gemma killed Tara in Sons of Anarchy

Things were a bit smoother with Thomas, but with Abel, Jax was hit with some of the biggest challenges a parent can face. Abel was born with a congenital heart condition and was born prematurely because Wendy did drugs while pregnant. For most of the first season, Jax and his friends crossed their fingers, hoping Abel would survive. Luckily, he did.

Shortly after that, Abel got kidnapped and was taken to Ireland. Jax almost lost him as Father Kellan Ashby put him up for adoption. Later in the series, Abel also began to hurt himself while blaming Gemma for it.

He Watched Opie And Bobby Die

August Marks prepares to shoot Bobby during the exchange in Sons Of Anarchy

Jax watched two of the noblest SAMCRO members die. First was his best friend Opie, who was beaten to death by Pope's men in prison. Pope wanted a SAMCRO member dead as payback for Tig killing his daughter. It was painful for Jax, both because he is the one who convinced Opie to come back to SAMCRO, and because Opie was his closest friend.

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Jax also watched Bobby get killed by August Marks. Bobby had undergone enough torture already, even having his eye gouged out. Just as Jax thought he had successfully negotiated his release, Marks pulled out a gun and shot him.

His Endless Feud With Clay

Jax holding a knife to Clay's throat in Sons of Anarchy

SAMCRO would have been better with Jax and Clay on the same side. That never happened, because neither of them trusted or respected each other. They didn't have the same ideologies either.

The fact that Clay was married to Jax's mother never helped. And after Jax read JT's letters, things only got worse. Even though Jax got the better of Clay, the feud derailed him more than it benefited him.

The Death Of Tara

Tara and Jax

Jax never loved any woman like he loved Tara. He valued her enough to consider quitting the life of crime.

However, that would never happen. He could identify with Michael Corleone's iconic words: "Just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in." The longer he stayed in Charming, the worse the conflict between Gemma and Tara got. Gemma found the ideal excuse to kill Tara after convincing herself that she was ratting. It was an unbearable loss for Jax, a loss that forever changed him.

Falling Out With August Marks

Sons of Anarchy August Marks

Jax could have had a great working relationship with August Marks if only he hadn't chosen to be sly. Marks was noble enough to allow Tig to live, yet Jax still went against their agreement. Marks wanted Jax to hold off on going after the Chinese, but the SAMCRO president wouldn't do as agreed.

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Jax tried to take out Marks and paid the ultimate price by losing a valued SAMCRO member. While it's understandable that Jax was eager to avenge Tara's death, he ought to have put logic before emotions. His decision only led him into a darker path of violence that he would never come out of.

He Never Found Out About Gemma's Involvement In His Father's Death

Gemma's influence on Jax in Sons of Anarchy.

For most of the series, Jax loved his mother. He knew she was evil, but he had no idea just how big her book of sins was. Gemma was glad enough to watch men get slaughtered in the name of revenge, even though she knew she was the one that killed Tara. Luckily, Jax came to find out about that and killed her.

But Jax never found out that Gemma had conspired with Clay to tamper with John Teller's bike. By the time of his death, he may have suspected Gemma's involvement, but as far as he knew for sure, Clay was the only mastermind.

He Changed For The Worse Over Time

Charlie Hunnam as Jax Teller on the phone in Sons of Anarchy

Even though Tara's death fueled his thirst for bloodshed even further, Jax was already turning into a different person before that horrific incident. The same Tara told him bluntly "You've become a monster!"

In the first few seasons, Jax relied on diplomacy to solve disputes. That didn't last as he went full serial killer mode. At the end of the series, his kill count was 43, making him the most prolific murderer in the series. Perhaps if he had stuck to who he really was, things wouldn't have gotten so bad.

His Gruesome Death

sons of anarchy jax's death

Jax's death scene is still fresh among the minds of fans. When he crashed onto an oncoming truck and blood flowed all over the road, it wasn't easy to watch.

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It's sad that Jax had to go out in such a brutal manner, given how hard he had tried to establish peace and tranquility. By taking his own life, it also seemed like he was choosing to no longer face his enemies of the consequences of his actions. This wasn't the Jax viewers had come to know for most of the series.

He Didn't Live To See His Dream Come True

Jax in SOA

Like his father, Jax desperately wanted SAMCRO to get out of the gun business. Even though he made good progress, he died before this became a complete reality.

Chibs honored Jax by making sure his wish came through. In Season 2 of the spin-off Mayans MC, he oversaw negotiations between the Mayans and the Tijuana club, the Vatos, so that one of both of them would take over the business. If only Jackie Boy (as Chibs liked calling him) would have been present to see his dream finally come true.

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