It means "don't die easily, don't give up too soon."
The second line - "But rage, rage against the dying of the light" - means treat death as an enemy, to be fought against as long as possible.
Every man Dylan Thomas describes in the poem is the kind of man his father was (i.e., "wise men," "good men," etc...) and each of those men (him) would not stop fighting, no matter what the consequence. In the poem, his father is dying and the speaker doesn't like to see his father as that kind of man (weak and "blind"). So the speaker at first demands he fights, but then pleads with him to try to live.
Dylan Thomas wrote "Do not go gentle into that good night" The first stanza is:Do not go gentle into that good night,Old age should burn and rage at close of day;Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
The phrase "we will not go quietly into the night" is actually not from Shakespeare's Henry V, but rather from Dylan Thomas's poem "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night." In Henry V, themes of courage and defiance in battle are certainly present, especially in speeches like Henry's before the Battle of Agincourt, where he inspires his troops to fight bravely against overwhelming odds.
There are several poetic elements in the poem "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night." The actual phrase and specifically the word "night" is a metaphor for death.
It is part of a poem by Dylan Thomas called :- Do not go gentle into that good night, and you can not just take one line out of it and give it a meaning out of the context of the overall poem. The poem is a rage against the process of death. Here is the whole poem, read it and understand. "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 the 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." ----------------------------------------- "Grave men" is a pun on the word "grave" which could mean going to your grave or serious and "blinding sight" means going blind as one dies.
C. Life
It is Dylan Thomas and the poem is actually entitled... "Do not go gentle into that good night"
Dylan Thomas.
Dylan Thomas' "Do not go gentle into that good night" is an example of a villanelle, a strict 19-line poetic form with a specific rhyme scheme and refrain. It explores the themes of death, resistance, and the struggle for life in the face of mortality.
This is a poem by Dylan Thomas. It can be found at numerous poetry sites such as Poets org, Poetry Foundation, and Poem Hunter. It was originally published in 1951.
advises his father to rage against his coming death.
I think youre after Dylan Thomas's "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night" See appended link.
Dylan Thomas in 'And Death Shall Have no Dominion,' not to mention "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night."
Poet Dylan Thomas' poem, "Do Not Go Gentle Into that Good Night" was about warriors fending off the thought of death in the face of certain death.
The line is from the movie "Independence Day", spoken by the President of the United States in preparation for the final battle with the aliens. The line pays homage to the poem by Dylan Thomas, "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night", which describes the struggle of the aged against the onset of blindness.
"Go quietly into the night" is a phrase adapted from a line in the poem "Do not go gentle into that good night" by Dylan Thomas. It suggests accepting defeat or impending death without resistance or struggle. It conveys a sense of surrender or resignation.
Dylan Thomas wrote "Do not go gentle into that good night" The first stanza is:Do not go gentle into that good night,Old age should burn and rage at close of day;Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
He let the fiery passion he felt for his duties RAGE on. From Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night, by Dylan Thomas: Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light. _____________ The man exploded with rage when he saw his daughter pushed down by an older child.