Do Not go Gentle into That Good Night: A Call to Keep Going

L.P Madera

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

Written by Welsh poet Dylan Thomas in 1947, the poem ‘Do not go gentle into that good night carries many meanings. Originally written for his dying father, the poem is a plea for him to keep fighting and an expression of anger and frustration at what is happening to him.

Dylan Thomas passed away November 9, 1953 at the age of 39 years. He contracted pneumonia after a night of heavy drinking. One can infer not only by the poem but by the drinking and early death that the loss of his father surely had a detrimental impact on his life. His legacy, however, lives on through his poetry much like many past and present writers.

The use of repetition emphasizes his plea and each line demonstrates a combination of regret, dispair, and helplessness people feel toward their end.

The first line denotes the need for one to rebel against old age-not to let it consume you, but to live every day to its fullest.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words forked no lightning they do not go gentle into that good night

This line suggests that even though one is old and they know their time is near and that it’s a natural thing they should accept, they still fight against it because they might have one last thing to say. They regret the things they didn’t say and the many things that will remain unsaid after.

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.

Good men grieve at all the good deeds they could still do if they only had more time on this Earth so they press on to continue their good deeds as long as they can. When their time is finally up, they are sad and full of regret at the good things that were left undone.

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.

Individuals who lived wild, free, and reckless want to continue to do so and when their untimely end is near, they do not want to go. They want to continue to live as wild and free and want to live and explore forever. They don’t want it to end.

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.

People who know they’re dying or on death’s doorstep still fight against it even though they know it’s inevitable. Perhaps, this line suggests an almost natural rebellious instinct.

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.

His final, most heartfelt plea for his father to keep fighting and live is illustrated in the final line as he is talking to him on his deathbed. He is filled with strong emotions tying into the point of the poem which is a long drawn out plea to keep fighting. He’s giving many good examples throughout of how all these other people push through and he just wants his father to pull through in the same way.

Throughout the years, this poem has been used as a source of inspiration for many groups. It was even featured in the 2014 hit film Interstellar to which it was the fuel for the astronauts to not give up on their mission and keep trudging onward for a better future for humanity which would have been left to die on an uninhabitable planet.

Media is not the only place this work of writing has been used as a catalyst of motivation. Today, many individuals have used it to advocate against despair or decline. Many motivational influencers on social media have chosen this poem to use as a background for their videos. Whether the videos were for workout motivation, or daily life motivation in general, the poem and its words still create a powerful effect.

Seventy years after the wintery night it was debuted, the poem is still a popular source of inspiration for many no matter what they are struggling with. It is a wonderful poem that should be celebrated and cherished. While it was once the outlet of a poet releasing the grief of his dying father the only way he knew how, it can be used as a means of inspiration no matter what the situation is.

Things may seem rough in the world we live in today. America is experiencing a major affordability and housing crisis, there has been and still is a war with Ukraine, and we have suffered many a pandemic and are working out ways to combat any future pandemics. However, with all of these things, humanity remains tough.

Too many articles in the news share nothing but negativity. This may lead some into a deep pit of despair and fear. Of course, when you hear nothing but bad news all day every day it tends to drop the vibe significantly. However, there is hope. Like, General Leia says in The Force Awakens; “Hope is like the sun. If you only believe in it when you see it, you’ll never make it through the night.”

There are many wonderful things in this world to keep fighting for and more good news in the world than what’s being portrayed on media. The best advice? Go out there and explore for yourselves rather than let yourselves be trapped by the magic box of pessimism. Do not go gentle into that good night and always believe good things are right around the corner. Even if it doesn’t seem like it right now.