In "Before the Frost," Henning Mankell explores the themes of mortality and the philosophical discussions surrounding death through the perspective of the narrator. When they were younger, the narrator and a friend, referred to as "stone," would engage in conversations about death as if it were a duel. They viewed it as a contest where one could outmaneuver death long enough to mitigate its finality, approaching it with a sense of strategy rather than fear.

This perspective illustrates how they sought to control the narrative around death, treating it almost like a performance where one could endure the struggles and emerge with a semblance of dignity. Their discussions reflect a youthful bravado and a desire to confront the inevitable in a way that felt empowering. The phrase "that it went well" encapsulates their hope for a dignified passage, emphasizing the importance of how one faces life's ultimate certainty.