The quote highlights the stark reality that death is a constant presence in impoverished areas, suggesting that it is more familiar to those living in hardship than to others. The speaker acknowledges the grim living conditions of the poor, describing their surroundings as dark and foul, without having personally experienced it. This illustrates a disconnect between the speaker's upper-class existence and the harsh realities faced by those in poverty.

Furthermore, the assertion that death is a "friend" to the poor implies an ironic comfort in its certainty amidst suffering. It reflects a deep compassion for those who endure daily struggles, suggesting that while death may seem fearsome, it also offers a form of companionship to those who face relentless adversity alone. This duality raises questions about the nature of life and death and the societal divisions that often blind the privileged to the suffering of the less fortunate.