If I was a mob guy and about to kill someone, I'd say "you're gonna die in 60 seconds. What's that feel like?" I think that would be an interesting thing to know. - XMASTIMEApparently there's someone in China asking the same thing, which I think is the right thing for us to ask. There can surely be nothing more chilling than to realize you are moments away from death - what's that like? Is it calming? Is it terrifying? I reckon the only people who know exactly when they're gonna die are people on death row and people who commit suicide. The rest of us don't have that burden/luxury. Maybe it's An American Tragedy in me, who knows.
Clyde Griffiths, on the way to the electric chair, saying goodbye to his mother:
"Mama, you must believe I die resigned and content. It won't be hard. God has heard my prayers. He has given me strength and peace." But to himself adding: "Had he?"Of course he hadn't: you lived an incredibly short life of 20 years. You should be furious; what amount of "strength and peace" could possibly make up for "not existing"?
Good for him for questioning. And has there ever been any talk re: why Dreiser wrote"he" instead of "He"?
Meantime, I think I would be a horrible, horrible shriveling mess of a man if I knew I was going to die in 60 seconds. I can promise you here and now, there will be no dignity in my death. I will shake and quiver and cry for any and every extra moment of life.
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