What Is The Message Of Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night

Dylan Thomas wrote “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night” in light of his father’s approaching death. While his purpose is honorable, his execution falls slightly short. At first, he seems to direct his message at those who are already dying. Offering no encouragement to them, he ends in the same despair he started, which is inevitable death. Despite this, his message can be applied to those who are still living. Even though those who are dying lack hope, he calls those with life still before them to rage with ambition and not view death as the lowest point in life. He calls people not to go gently into death, but to live with meaning and ongoing endeavor. Thomas pushes people to examine how they live their lives in regards to death. By first interpretation, Thomas seeks to offer comfort to those who face death and attempts to motivate them to live the little life they have left with passion. By repeatedly saying “Rage, rage against the dying of the light” (Thomas 3), his attempt is evident; yet, it undoes itself. He offers …show more content…
People should live with some kind of meaning and purpose and not think that because death is inevitable that there is no point to living. However, Thomas still never offers any reasons to live life beyond the concept of simply existing. Compelling people to have purpose and meaning seems itself purposeless and inconclusive in the face of a certain death. Consequently, his message can be considered inconclusive, unless perhaps he is pointing beyond this reality to the idea that there must be more to life than what one makes of it and the end merely death. Perhaps there is a reality beyond this time and space that offers hope for those with life ahead and for those facing death. This would make sense of death not being a low, but the height of one step in reality, leading to another magnitude of