Trying to understand a poem when first reading it is very difficult. One must
read the poem several times to understand the author’s point. It is important to
concentrate on grammatical structures and rhyme schemes. This essay will compare
the work of Dylan Thomas’ “Do not go gentle into that good night” to
the work of Andrew Hudgins’ “Elegy for My Father, Who Is Not Dead.”
Both works concentrate on their fathers, as they become closer to death. The
authors of the respective poems have different views behind the word
“death.” Within the poem “Do not go gentle into that good
night”, Thomas speaks on how one should value life. He feels as though life
is something special and should not be taken for granted. Moreover, he believes
that one should keep their head up and believe that there will be a brighter day
tomorrow. The refrains: “Rage, rage against the dying of the light”
and “Do not go gentle into that good night” symbolize the thought. On
the other hand, Hudgins views death as something that is very special, a
stepping stone in life. He feels that death is a continuation of life, instead
of the end of life. Lines 3-5 of “Elegy for My Father, Who Is Not
Dead” says, “In the sureness of his faith, he talks about the world
beyond this world as though his reservations have been made” supports the
theory. In addition, the tones of the poems are comparable. Each poem reveals a
lonely and sorrowful tone. In “Elegy for My Father, Who Is Not Dead”,
line 14 says, He’s ready. I am not. I can’t just say good-bye as cheerfully as
if he were embarking on a trip…” reveals that the passing of his father
is something that he is not ready to handle. He knows that the passing of his
father’s will bring sadness, loneliness, and a sense of emptiness to his hearts.
Likewise, Thomas would feel the same way is his father was to pass away.
Finally, the poems have contrasting themes; Thomas feels death as a horrible
experience, while Hudgins sees death as a joyous experience. For example, the
poem “Elegy for My Father, Who Is Not Dead” views death as a cruise to
a place that is promised to be joyous. Also, it indicates that the son would
eventually repeat the journey of death the father took. On the other hand, line
4 of “Do not go gentle into that good night says, “Though wise men at
their end know dark is right..”. Thomas sees death as something dreary and
dark. The author does not see death as a mark in life, but rather the end of
life in all aspects; mentally, physically, and spiritually. Thomas believes that
death is like being blind, and not knowing what is going on. In conclusion, both
poems express different views of death. Thomas feels that death as something
that is dreary, while Hudgins views death as a joyous occasion that is just a
stepping stone of life. Each poem reveals that the sons are not ready for their
father’s death. The authors feel that their fathers should try everything to
avoid death. Also, the authors not that their life’s would not be the same
without their fathers beside them. Death is a word that can be interpreted in
many different ways.
