"Know a man for years. Live with him, share his bread and water, speak with him on every subject. Then tie him up and hold him over a volcano's edge. On that day, you shall finally meet that man."
— Chinese Warrior Poet Xiang Yu
Death tends to bring what is really important to the fore, and last words are a character's expression of who they really are. Whether they are going out with a bang, saying heartfelt farewell, facing death bravely, or expressing no regrets, it makes for great drama.
See also a list of the most famous last words.
Tropes:
- Any Last Words?
- Dead Man Writing
- Deathbed Confession
- Deathbed Promotion
- Death Cry Echo
- Defiant to the End
- Disconnected by Death
- Dying Curse
- Dying Declaration of Hate
- Dying Declaration of Love
- "Facing the Bullets" One-Liner
- Final Speech
- Get It Over With
- Goodbye, Cruel World!
- His Name Is... *dies*
- I'm Cold... So Cold...
- I'm Dying, Please Take My MacGuffin
- If I Do Not Return
- I Regret Nothing
- Ironic Last Words
- It Has Been an Honor
- Killed Mid-Sentence
- Lame Last Words
- Last Request
- Long-Lasting Last Words
- Obi-Wan Moment
- One Last Smoke
- Parting-Words Regret
- Parting-from-Consciousness Words
- Plea of Personal Necessity
- Planning for the Future Before the End
- Pre-Mortem Catchphrase
- Pre-Sacrifice Final Goodbye
- Prepare to Die
- Profane Last Words
- The Power of Legacy
- Regret Eating Me
- Say Your Prayers
- Sedgwick Speech
- See You in Hell
- Sorry That I'm Dying
- Take Care of the Kids
- Taking You with Me
- This Cannot Be!
- What Does This Button Do?
- You Have No Chance to Survive
What if you don't live by a volcano?
I suspect the trope description was being poetical.
