Though William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 73 and Dylan Thomas’ Do Not Go Gentle Into that Good Night are both poems that discuss the concept of death, the two poets differ in their approaches towards the idea of death.
In sonnet 73 death is seen as a progression. Time slowly compresses itself, from the expansion of season, to day, to moment. The life of this person, the time that they have left in this world is gradually diminishing and Shakespeare acknowledges this by claiming, ‘as the deathbed whereupon it must expire’. There is no question or doubt in regards to the possibility of death; it is stated as an expected end through the use of must expire, not will expire. Furthermore, Shakespeare recognizes that this person is refusing to accept death that they are trying to grasp whatever they have left. This person loves more and more what they must leave and cannot have for much longer; life. Meanwhile in Do Not Go Gentle Into that Good Night, death is not easily confirmed as an inevitable end. There is a lack of acceptance on Thomas’ part as he pleads with his father again and again not to acknowledge death. He is asking for his father’s emotion in fighting off the possibility of death, as seen through the repetition of the paraphrase, ‘Do not go gentle into that good night’. While Thomas refuses to accept death, he clearly tells us that death exists, for "wise men know death is right", and wild men grieve the coming of death. Furthermore, the immense reality of death is the sole cause of his rage against the ‘dying of the light’. While Shakespeare both acknowledges and accepts death, Thomas finds difficulty in recognizing this fact. Meanwhile whosoever is dying within each poem seems to perceive death differently from the poets themselves. Each poet’s approach towards death is the opposite of the other.
Shakespeare furthermore, by using metaphors compares death with realistic examples that we as readers can identify. For instance, the concept of growth as seen through the trees’ leaves changing colors in fall. Shakespeare supports his argument of the inevitable, death. Thomas on the other hand, approaches death in another way. By using the conventions of repetition, he demands attention to his emotions, a bias towards death. The metaphors that he uses are ideas that not every reader can easily relate too.
You make an observation in "Sonnet 73" showing the distinction between "must expire" and will "expire." Your explanation for Shakespeare's word choice("must") is complete, and this supports your arguement as well. Your comparison of death between the two poems is well done, for you use metaphors and diction to support your argument.
ReplyDeleteTo help the reader to distinguish each paragraph from another one, a space could be placed before beginning another paragraph. Your blog will be easier to read, and the reader's concentration will not be foreshortened. There are also a few grammatical errors, but not enough to confuse the reader. Quotation marks need to be placed on some of the quotes, such as "wild men know death is right."
Nice prose. It seems like your first sentence tells the readers to expect what the whole writing will be about. It's true that both poems focus on the theme of death, and their approaches are different.
ReplyDeleteYou point out the major differences between the two poems and solidify your understanding on which expects that made the poems stand out from each other. It's true that Sonnet 73 is seen as a progression; you back that up with your acknowledgement that Shakespeare compresses time down from season, to day, and then moment. It's not clear when you wrote, "Shakespeare recognizes that this person is refusing to accept death..." Shakespeare's sonnets are mostly about himself trying to convince young women to fall in love with him. He starts out by telling what's happening, and ends with "here is what you should do." In Sonnet 73, he starts out telling that his youth is fading and concludes that his lovers should love him more with "This thou perceiv'st, which makes thy love more strong."
You have a basic understanding of Thomas' poem. It's true when you wrote that he pleads his father not to acknowledge death; basically he urges his father not to give up. Wise men don't give up; good men don't give up, wild men don't give up; therefore his father should not give up. The poem is about a relationship between father and son. Thomas is frustrated that his father is dying so young.
Nice work! A little more analysis would improve your writing.