In Cormac McCarthy's novel "Blood Meridian, or the Evening Redness in the West," the intense quote reflects a deep psychological struggle faced by the characters. It captures the fear of mortality and the existential dread that accompanies the unpredictability of life. The protagonist's anxiety about dying juxtaposed with the fear of survival indicates a profound crisis of identity and purpose amid violence and chaos.

This internal conflict reveals the harsh realities of the world McCarthy depicts, where life is precarious and often devoid of meaning. The duality of fearing death and the continuation of suffering emphasizes the novel's themes of brutality and the human condition, illustrating how survival can sometimes feel like an even greater burden than death itself.