bahmer

Amen and Amen

Morgan

No Linda wong, it is not my interpretation, it is "the" interpretation, studied in many colleges. Her just for you, and others also:

An Analysis of "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night" by Dylan Thomas
Updated on February 1, 2018
jngtr2 profile image
jngtr2 more
Contact Author



Choose Life

The poem “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night”, by Dylan Thomas is a son’s plea to a dying father. His purpose is to show his father that all men face the same end, but they fight for life, nonetheless. “Old age should burn and rave at close of day,” (line 2) is almost the thesis for this poem. Thomas classifies men into four different categories to persuade his father to realize that no matter the life choices, consequences, or personalities, there is a reason to live. It is possible that Thomas uses these categories to give his father no excuses, regardless of what he did in life.

Wise men are the first group that Thomas describes. The first line in the stanza, “Though wise men at their end know dark is right,” (4) suggests that they know that death is a natural part of life and they are wise enough to know they should accept it. However, the next line reasons that they fight against it because they feel they have not gained nearly enough repute or notoriety. “Because their words had forked no lighting” (5) is Thomas’ way of saying that they want to hold on to life to be able to leave their mark, thereby sustaining their memory in history as great scholars or philosophers.

Thomas moves forward and describes the next group as good men. They reflect on their lives as the end approaches. “Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright,” (7) This line can be broken down into two parts. First’ good men are few now, as it says “the last wave by,” perhaps this is emphasis on the fact that Thomas believes his father to be a good man and that the world can still use him. Second, the line “crying how bright,” refers to men telling their stories in a limelight. They self-proclaim their works as good, but as Thomas goes on into the next line “their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,” (8) it describes men knowing that their deeds will not be remembered regardless of their seemingly significant achievements. Green bay refers to an eternal sea, which marks their place in history. After reflecting on the past, they decide that they want to live if for nothing more than to leave their names written down in history.

Wild men, however as the next group is revealed, have learned too late that they are mortal. They spent their lives in action and only realize as time has caught up with them that this is the end. “Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,” (10) exaggerates their experiences and how they have wasted away their days chasing what they could not catch. Even more so “caught and sang the sun,” refers to how these wild men lived. They were daredevils who faced peril with blissful ignorance. They wasted away their lives on adventures and excitements. The next line, “And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,” (11) refers to the realism of their own mortality. They grieve because they have caused much grief living their lives in folly. Even though the end is approaching, they will not give in because they want more time to hold on to the adventure of their youth and perhaps right a few wrongs that they have done.

Grave men, are the last group of men Thomas describes. “Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight,” (13) in this line his use of grave men has almost a double meaning, referring to men who are saddened as well as being physically near death. They feel the strains of a long life, and they know they are physically decaying. Their eyes are failing along with the rest of their body, however there is still a passion burning within their eyes for an existence, even if it is a frail state. “Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,” (14) is an expression that represent man’s struggle for survival. He is possibly offering that even in this frail state that his father could be happy living longer.

Finally, in the last stanza the intent is presented, Thomas is showing that all men no matter their experiences or situations fight for more time. He urges his father to do the same. “Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray,” (17) describes his pain and passion that are causing him to beg his father not to die. Thomas is watching his father fade and is begging for his father no to give in. It appears that his father has either peacefully surrendered himself, or rather that he has resigned himself to his fate.

Thomas starts the poem referring to wise men, then to good men, then changes pace to wild men, and finally fades out with grave men. One reason he uses this progression is to start with where he sees his father’s character lie, and then finally move toward what Thomas believes his father has resigned himself as. Thomas’ father was a military man and his father’s resignation to his current state is eating away at him. He suggests that every man needs to make his mark in life and his father has not done so. He is trying to postpone the inevitable by pleading for a little more time, feeling that his father is giving up, and maybe if he can prove to his father that no one gives up regardless of his or her disposition then his father will be able to get off his deathbed. His final plea to his father ends the poem, giving a passionate, but ultimately hopeless expression, “Do not go gentle into that good night / Rage, rage against the dying of the light.” (19)

The use of the metaphor “that good night” (1, 6, 12, 18) gives the impression that Thomas knew that death was right. He calls it that good night instead of another ghastly term for death. However, he also calls it “the dying of the light,” (3, 9, 15, 19) which suggest a peaceful surrender. He urges his father to rage against a peaceful end and endeavor to resist his demise. Thomas uses the words night and light as metaphors for death and life and alternates them to hammer home his point. Part of this poem seems to be almost a lighthearted when he declares “Old age should burn and rave at close of day,” (2) almost as if saying old people should be allowed to live long and complain as long as they do not give up. The purpose of his use of division into categories remains, however to emphasize the importance of living, leaving his father with an unmistakable argument…choose life.
https://owlcation.com/humanities/An-analysis-of-Do-Not-Go-Gentle-into-That-Good-Night-by-Dylan-Thomas
It is YOUR interpretation of it that is your own and to any of the other misguided.

You really don't get it or you are trying to cover up your own intention here, for me it is very clear, so I ask again, who are you really? Stop it your falling over yourself, with you now stating the interpretation as if you had known, I call BS or you never would have used it as you did. I never changed anything of yours , now your tying to accuse me of something I never did.

It would be better if you were to just admit that you misread/misinterpreted the poem.

Give it up you are no english teacher and the copy and paste isn't going to save you out of this.

But more important is still the question why you try to spew on contention and instigate for people to rise up against Democrats, are you really a Russian troll, I've been suspect for a long time watching your strategy since you've been here. It would make sense, and it is so hard to tell on an online forum.

Morgan

Pure BS, prove it, and don't give me some incident of some radical, a raving radical from either side does not speak for the core and general base. Or I could do the same with the neo-radical right movements and we could be here all day and prove nothing because they would both be wrong.

All anyone has to do is look to see the intentions of either side. somewhere close to the middle is reasonable from both groups, the middle independents are the most logical as they are not getting swayed, or as swayed by party mantra.

What you say about Democrats is an outright lie, they protect the rights of the people and not lead by corporate.

Morgan

[quote=Jakebrake]


If I were you, Jake, I wouldn't assume anything, to take one comment, and make it some sort of distinction with it is a mistake, every issue is separate and why I'm unaffiliated. A****a is against f*****m, is it not...or are you twisting it to something else? I am against f*****m are you not?

Protests are part of our freedoms, are you against that, I've seen many protests from the right, do you chose to only look at one side?

I am against all violence, it is also illegal, we should avoid it at all cost.

Like I've said the random acts of another do not speak for an entire party and to believe anything like that is just ignorant or is stupid a better word. again we can look for similar cases from the right, what does it solve.

If you really want to talk about f**e news you should look into the media engines behind Murdock and the Koch's and the mass of people working towards their agenda.

I can't think of anyone from center to left who even comes close to thinking of Trump the way you do, he has proven otherwise by his own actions. Everything to how he's t***sferred the wealth, who he aligns himself with, and what allies he has separated us from. Wake up Jake. Things are coming to a head, so it's all good.

One thing I'll admit, Trump, by accident has forced us all to do some reflections on many things, that's a good thing, now can we work together to fix it, or do we just go for the divorce.

eagleye13 Loc: Fl

Still waiting, Morgan.
Morgan wrote:
"Where do we not support religious freedom, except where ones religious freedom would hurt another? Unfortunately, religious freedom does not include a nativity scene on the front of a government office building which many Christians just don't seem to comprehend. Unless we extend that same courtesy to every religion, that can be done. But bias(favoritism) is not acceptable."


Morgan, which of these would you denounce?

A****a
B*M
OWS
Left wing protesters disrupting Senate Hearings
SEIU thugs beating a black conservative man at a Trump rally
Progressives verbally attacking Administration officials enjoying a meal at a restaurant
Businesses refusing service to those of differing political beliefs

Morgan

Yours are made up accusations from right propaganda, our claims on the republican being unconstitutional and crooked s**ms have been PROVEN, so who's full of it, not the Dems.

Morgan

This is my final response to you, I from this point on, do not respond to anything you say, due to your constant insults,what you have to say means nothing.

eagleye13 Loc: Fl

"This is my final response to you, I from this point on, do not respond to anything you say, due to your constant insults,what you have to say means nothing." - Morgan
Morgan!!!
You can run, but you can not hide.

Jakebrake Loc: Broomfield, CO

Aw Morg, Morg, Morg you are on a rant today. If, as you say "unconstitutional and crooked s**ms have been PROVEN" why have the democrats NOT launched impeachment proceedings to date? Simply nothing more than partisan left wing nut hyperbole.

debeda

Yep. Illinois is similar. No ID required.

Morgan

Jesus, it was all factual except my opinion, and I never exchanged your words fo mine. Yes, war is never the answer, and yes where I was going, life is too precious to lose our sons and daughters. If we chose to not come together, it would be better to split the country and go our separate ways, because k*****g each other and forcing one to live by the others rule would never work, will never change how we feel, or ideologies.

But first, it's important to see about the insidious seeds that have been planted to divide us, what is true and what isn't. And this propaganda of the Democrats or even liberals believing in socialism or c*******m is a lie and to boot it's not a form of government. Know where you are being manipulated.

Jakebrake Loc: Broomfield, CO

Wonder if you will be placed on his 'ignore' list?

Morgan

Nope he can continue to spew his BS and insults, which I know he will do, he's a troll and what he does.

debeda

Do you see Google, ABC, Facebook or Twitter as raving radicals? Because all of the above companies have censored conservatives simply for voicing a conservative opinion, fired employees simply for voicing a conservative opinion (in a rather prominent recent case Facebook had to pay out a cool 100 million to an employee for this), disallowed advertisers simply for voicing a conservative opinions. These are facts, easily proven. And no, I don't have the time or the inclination to post 30 links for you. In counterpoint. ABC, for instance, keeps people like Jimmy Fallon, the clucks on the view, and others who use their platform and fame to excoriate our President, his administration and conservatives in general. Day after day, week after week and year after year with no let up. Bluntly, liberals are allowed to say any insulting, outrageous, biased and hurtful on public forums not meant for such over and over and over again, day after week after month after year with little or no consequences. While conservatives? De-platformed, censored, fired, depersoned for .....being conservative. More and more often. Im sure you won't look at any of this with unjaundiced eyes, but it felt good to get it out.

eagleye13 Loc: Fl

He is a she.
She is getting out of the kitchen! LOL