World War II

Thomas composed “Do not go gentle into that good night” in 1951, just a few years after the conclusion of the Second World War. Although the poem doesn’t directly reference the war, this historical context may help to explain the poem’s central message about aggressively defying death’s domain. Some readers might initially find it counterintuitive to associate such aggression with a dignified death. Indeed, many would regard a rageful defiance of death as being far less dignified than peaceful acceptance. That said, it’s important to recognize that attitudes to death can shift dramatically in times of war, particularly when the conflict is framed as a battle between good and evil. And from the perspective of the Allied Forces, World War II was absolutely a war of good versus evil. Whereas the Allied powers (led by Great Britain and the United States) represented democracy and freedom, the Axis powers (led by Germany, Italy, and Japan) represented fascism and repression. Having such a stark line drawn between good and evil clarified the stakes of the conflict and made it easier for Allied soldiers to face death with defiant courage and righteous rage. Under such circumstances, defiance and rage would indeed make for a dignified death.