Do not go gentle into that good night

Dylan Thomas

In ‘Do not go gentle into that good night’, Dylan Thomas shows how death is inevitable and that we shouldn’t be so afraid of death. Thomas utilises repetition in ‘Do not go gentle into that good night’ in order to emphasise the importance of embracing life even in the final moments. Similarly, Thomas utilises repetition in ‘Rage, rage against the dying of the light’ to urge the reader to face life with energy and passion. The persona talks about how ‘wise men’ seek to leave a legacy,  ‘good men’ still fight to do more good deeds, ‘wild men’ enjoy the sun and ‘grave’ men can still find happiness in their sickness. Finally, the speaker turns to his father, and pleads for him to be ‘fierce’ and strong in his final moments.

Because I Could Not Stop for Death

Emily Dickinson

"Because I could not stop for Death" by Emily Dickinson presents death as a courteous and gentle figure, personifying it as a gentleman who kindly escorts the speaker on a carriage ride towards eternity. The journey progresses through various scenes representing the stages of life, from the innocence of childhood with children playing to the maturity of adulthood with fields of grain and the setting sun. As the journey continues, the speaker gradually realizes her own mortality as she begins to feel the chill of death, symbolized by her inadequate clothing. Finally, they reach the destination of the grave, where the speaker will rest for centuries to come, emphasizing the timeless nature of death. Through vivid imagery and personification, Dickinson explores the idea of death as a natural and inevitable part of life, challenging traditional fears and perceptions associated with it.