Point of View

To Hell With Dying is told in the first person. The narrator is a 24-year-old black woman who is reminiscing about her beloved neighbor, Mr. Sweet, and the many successful "revivals" she and her family participated in on his behalf throughout her childhood. The love and nostalgia she feels are evident in her telling of the story.

Setting

Although this story takes place in the South, Walker's focus is mainly on the relationship between the narrator and Mr. Sweet. The only emphasis impressed upon any particular setting is Mr. Sweet's shack: specifically, the bed in his room that he lays on when he is dying and where their "revivals" take place.

Language and Meaning

Walker's use of language in To Hell With Dying deviates from the language used in most of her short stories in this collection. In keeping with the narrator's character, Walker writes the...