Why is begging for your life some indication of a lack of dignity?

(Random, right?)

I was listening to Dan Brown’s “Angels and Demons” (comfort listen, to be honest), and the assassin mocks the father of one of the characters because he “whimpered and begged for his life”.

Ok…I mean, wouldn’t you? If it works, I’m going to do whatever I can to, you know, stay alive. Just another example of toxic masculinity, if you ask me.