don t go gentle into that good night meaning

John was now near death and suffering and wanted to end it all but was advised by doctors that there was no “death with dignity” law in Maryland. John and Diane had both promised to help each other during the last stage of life. Diane as you may recall was a voice of the National Public Radio station. John Rehm suffered seriously from Parkinson’s disease. Michael Rosenwald, in a recent Washington Post story, describes another difficult situation. Her family and friends supported that decision instead of asking her to “rage against the night”. I remember reading of Brittany Maynard the 29 year old woman suffering from terminal brain cancer who moved to Oregon which has a “death with dignity” law so she might avoid tomorrow’s misery. Maybe his efforts to have his father “rage against the dying of the light” represented a more selfish desire of his own than a correct plea for a loved one.Ī few modern examples, however, may offer us an alternative approach to confronting death. Perhaps this writer, after a few rounds of whiskey, found himself in some dark corner of a tavern, confronting his own grief as he penned his combative verses. Even though his father’s quality of life is gone and death is near Dylan wants him to give no quarters to the Grim Reaper.įight to the very end, the Poet embellishes.Īs I often revisit this poem, I can’t help but question the logic of Thomas’ words. Thomas is urging his dad to resist death in every possible way. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.” Old age should burn and rave at close of day At the very beginning of the poem he offers this advice: It is a rather descriptive poem where Dylan wants his father to confront death in a courageous, relentless manner. I have also enjoyed reading these verses aloud on many occasions. Each line of this poem is directed to his father who is facing an imminent death.Īnthony Hopkins and many other prominent people have recited this literary gem over the years. Dylan also had a fondness for strong drink. “Do not go gentle into that good night” is a famous poem written by the Welsh Poet Dylan Thomas.

Don t go gentle into that good night meaning