The poem "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night" by Dylan Thomas shows us the authors feelings about death. The phrases "Rage, rage against the dying of the light" and "Do not go gentle into that good night" are always placed at the end of a stanza. They evoke an urge to resist the "night" or "dying of the light" which symbolize dying. Someone he was close to was near death. Perhaps it was his father, or someone else he looked up to. Throughout his poem he gives reasons one resists death, and shows the different type of people and their reactions.
Lines 4 through 6 shows that when near death, wise men know it is right. Everyone must die at some point, but they resist. They resist because their words have "forked no lightning"; they have not made their impact on the world.
Lines 7 through 9 explains how good men, while looking back on their life for one last time realize that their actions have "danced in a green bay" their whole lives. Like a twig being tossed about in the vast ocean bay. So they resist, they do not wish to die yet.
Lines 10 through 13 depict the careless men. The men who "caught and sang the sun in flight" their whole lives. Doing whatever pleased them. While reflecting upon their pasts they realized that they have learned what they had wasted too late. So they resist the "good night", hoping they can change themselves through the whole process of death.
Lines 13 through 15 speak of the men who have revelations in death. They see for the first with insight so strong it is blinding. For once they realize what life is about, and feel relieved. They wish to keep this newfound happiness so they resist their dying.
Lastly, Lines 16 through 19 are about a person the author knew. He wants him to curse and bless him at the same time with his tears. Cursing him in that he can see his father in pain, and will never forget the image. At the same time blessing him by showing him that he is happy, happy that he has come to his own revelations in dying.
