To Hell with Dying

“Mr. Sweet was a diabetic and an alcoholic and a guitar player and lived down the road from us on a neglected cotton farm.”

The initial description of Mr. Sweet as a diabetic while being called Mr. Sweet is a juxtaposition of the qualities that define him, being sweet in nature while burdened with significant internal conflict and sadness. The description contextualizes the character and the relationship between him and the narrator, but it does so in a nonjudgmental way, which speaks to the narrator’s positive view of him. The last description of the neglected cotton farm helps create a sense of place and time while setting the foundation for themes surrounding Mr. Sweet’s character.

“Mr. Sweet had been ambitious as a boy, wanted to be a doctor or lawyer or sailor, only to find that black men fare better if they are not.”

This quote gives Mr. Sweet background and depth while also evoking empathy for Mr. Sweet in his childhood dreams being shorted because of his race. The words “only to find” emphasize the innocence of Mr. Sweet in his childhood. The reference to his ambition asserts a contrast to the innocence of childhood and the evil of segregation, as it took away Mr. Sweet’s dream. This helps partially explain the severe depression he struggles with throughout the story.