In "Do not go gentle into that good night," Thomas argues that "old age should burn and rave at close of day," implying that individuals should not give in to death easily (Thomas line 2). In order to prove his point, and convince his father to fight for his life, Thomas provides various examples of men from all walks of life, who regardless of their past fought to live for as long as they could. Thomas writes, "wise men at their end know dark is right…Do not go gentle into that good night," "Good men…Rage, rage against the dying of the light," "Wild men…Do not go gentle into that good night," and "Grave men, near death…Rage, rage against the dying of the light" (4,6,7,10,13). Thomas's fears are emphasized when he addresses his father and pleads, "Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray," which can be taken to mean that Thomas will be cursed if he loses his father or that his father will be curse if continues to fight, and that...
"Do not go gentle into that good night" can be described as a poem of selfishness as Thomas wants others to disregard the closure and peace death provides to appease him and spare him the pain of loss.
While Dickinson is able to use symbolism to describe her journey through life and accepts death as a natural part of life, Thomas is fearful and projects his anxieties about death onto his father, who although struggling to stay alive, is ready to give in to death. Despite their contradicting perspectives about death, both Dickinson and Thomas recognize that it symbolizes an end to life.
Works Cited
Dickinson, Emily. "Because I could not stop for Death." Poets.org. 1890. Web. 10 July 2013.
Thomas, Dylan. "Do not go gentle into that good night." Poets.org. 1951. Web. 10 July 2013.
