Question

Thomas knew that his father would die--he did not think the poem would be able to sustain his life. In light of that, what are the possible effects ofthe message in the poem? Not sure what they want...

Answer 1

Here's the poem...
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 that 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.

Answer 2

Well, the poem is pretty clearly about death. References to darkness, night, the potential lack of light. "Close of day." The sorrow of the relative; "Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears." I suppose you could come up with some other explanation; short of them literally "going into the good night" (whatever that means), I feel that death is the most parsimonious explanation.

I think the poem is strictly about regret; that all men have it, and will, at the end of their days, reminisce about what could have been.

The wise men's words "forked no lightning"; perhaps this is their regret that they did not speak enough wisdom.

The good men's "frail deeds... danced"; perhaps this is their regret that they did not do enough good.

The wild men sang the sun in flight. Aside from possible illusions to Icarus/Helios--the wings of wax--they "grieved". Quite possibly a reference to regret.

I like the one about grave men. They see "with blinding sight" what could have been; they could have been non-cynical people with a positive outlook on life. "Blaze like meteors," indeed.

Of course, ending each stanza with phrases like, "rage against the night", etc, suggests strongly that with this regret may they struggle against their deaths. Let their lived life be defined by what they have done; that all men have regrets.

Answer 3

I enjoyed this poem. ;) Keep posting them, and even though I suck at this, I'll see if I can write short "reviews".

Answer 4

Thanks! One last question: since Thomas knows that his dad won't live, How would you explain how that effected the poem? I think it effected the poem because even though he knows his father will still die, he might've felt compelled to encourage other men to live their life to the fullest because even though they might fight the darkness, they will not suceed and will die with regrets.

Answer 5

Does that make sense?

Answer 6

Sure. I don't really know the context, or who this Thomas is, but as far as I can tell, that seems like the best explanation. :)

Answer 7

Thanks!