Analysis of “Do not go gentle into that good night”

“Do not go gentle into that good night” by Dylan Thomas argues that despite the

inevitability of death, it should be acknowledged, however, fought against relentlessly. In

the first line, the author addresses an unknown listener, advising him to not go gentle into

the night. At this point, it is unclear if the night is literal or a metaphor for something.

However, upon discussing how old age should rage, the author is beginning to imply that

the burning of light is that of aging. At the end of line 3, he states, “Rage, rage against the

dying of the light”, confirming that the metaphor of night and day is in fact regarding

death and age. He is advising the audience do not go gentle into that good night, as if to

say do not simply accept death early on and succumb to it. Instead, he advises them to

rage and be filled with life against death as they fight with resilience instead of simply

giving up on the rest of what life can offer. Lines 4-6 discuss the message the author is

trying to persuade his audience. He states “Though wise men at their end know dark is

right, Because their words had forked no lightning they Do not go gentle into that good

night.” He begins to discuss the different types of men that exist and how they react

towards the idea of death and in this section the author is saying that wise people are

aware death is inevitable, yet they still try to get as much out of life as they can and not

simply give up. These men are the types of men Thomas is arguing for the audience to be.

As the poem continues the author stresses the importance of resisting death and what it

will do for them. As the poem continues Thomas writes “...the last wave by crying…their

frail deeds danced in a green bay” and he uses the imagery to display the last wave of life

as the men reflect upon the deeds of their life as a green bay. In lines 9-12 the author
discusses the group of men that appreciated life but discovered death was inevitable too

late and are grieving. He continues to discuss “grave men”, which could mean serious

men or men that are near to the age of the grave. He says “blind eyes could blaze like

meteors and be gay” meaning that despite their old age dying people should fight and

rage as much as they can to resist death. The idea of fighting death until the end continues

into the last lines of the poem where the author takes a minute to address his father, where

he pleads with him to fight death harder in case a miracle happens. The author uses the

phrase “do not go gentle into that good night” as a refrain of sorts, ending every stanza in

a similar manner and the statement intensifies throughout the poem. The first few lines

include words such as gentle and good before the line of “do not go gentle into that good

night” yet intensifies to harsher, “rage in the dying of the light”. The theme of defying old

age is implemented in nearly every line of the poem and it is clear what Thomas is asking

his readers to do. Thomas does acknowledge that death is unavoidable and inevitable yet

he asks the audience to fight and resist death with all their strength instead of simply

succumbing to death when they begin to age. He uses figurative language to express how

despite illness and aging they can get as much out of life as possible rather than simply

giving up. The audience he speaks to appears to be the general population, asking young

and old people alike to resist. There is no clear audience directed at for a majority of the

work. It is not until the last lines of the poem when he states “And you my father there on

the sad height..” that it is revealed the author is speaking to his father in the poem. Upon

further research, this can be seen as a reflection of Thomas’s own father at the time who

was suffering the effects of a particular illness alongside old age. Thomas’s father died a
year later. The author however stresses the importance of resistance towards death by

using both figurative language and imagery alike. The concept of light is a heavily used

symbol throughout the entirety of the work. This can be seen as a will to live. With a will

to live that is raging and burning, Thomas is asking the audience and his father to resist

the darkness of death. Thomas also uses meteors as a reference to hope despite age. For

example in the line, “blind eyes gaze like meteors”, he is saying that despite the wear and

tear of age, people can still rage with life and create hope for more possibilities despite

their circumstances. Despite the circumstances, their eyes can still rage with life.

Statements such as these are easily stressed by the refrain, “do not go gentle into that

good night”, which is the most commonly used literary device within the poem. Some

alliterations are also seen, however, connecting words like learn and late, regarding the

men that took too long to appreciate the wealth of their youth and with the words blind

and blaze, connecting the two together to intensify the importance behind the correlation.

In conclusion, “Do not go gentle into that good night” is a passionate persuasion

from the author, asking the audience to resist death and with that take all they can out of

life before it is too late and the inevitably of death catches up to them. The poet uses

repetition, allusions, and a refrain to stress the theme of resilience despite old age.

Do not go gentle into that good night, Dylan Thomas

Do not go gentle into that good night,

Old age should burn and rave at close of day;

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,

Because their words had forked no lightning they

Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright

Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,

And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,

Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight

Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,

Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.

Do not go gentle into that good night.

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.