Thus, I always began by assuming the worst; my appeal was dismissed. That meant, of course, I was to die. Sooner than others, obviously. 'But,' I reminded myself, 'it's common knowledge that life isn't worth living, anyhow.' And, on a wide view, I could see that it makes little difference whether one dies at the age of thirty or threescore and ten-- since, in either case, other men will continue living, the world will go on as before. Also, whether I died now or forty years hence, this business of dying had to be got through, inevitably.
The narrator reflects on the inevitability of death and his acceptance of it. He starts by considering the worst possible outcome, which is that his appeal is denied and he faces execution. This acceptance leads him to a sense of detachment from life, as he believes that existence has little value. He sees death as an unavoidable experience that does not significantly disrupt the continuity of life for others.
Furthermore, the...
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All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.
Race of Cain, ascend to heaven, And cast God down upon the earth!
