Similar yet different.

Shakespeare’s sonnet “That time of year thou mayst in me behold” and Dylan Thomas’ villanelle, “Do not go gentle into that good night” share the common theme of death as well as a similarity in the strictness of their poetic structures. Though Shakespeare and Thomas use similar tools and language to portray the last moments of life, they ultimately take very different stances on the subject. Shakespeare’s sonnet paints the picture of a cyclical and natural death while Thomas’ villanelle fights and “rages” against death through the last line.

The contrast of light and darkness as well as day and night are recurring ideas in both poems and perfectly reflect the tone each author uses in his discussion of death.  Shakespeare’s treatment of the contrast is considerably gentler than Thomas’ use. Shakespeare describes the moments before death as “the twilight of such day” implying a gradual fading of life and a smooth, gentle transition to the close of life.  He continues, describing the fading as “sunset fadeth in the west;/ Which by and by black night doth take away/ Death’s second self, that seals up all in rest.” The associations with sunset are positive; not only is it considered a natural occurrence but it is also beautiful and calm. Even Shakespeare’s use of the word “black” lacks the darkness and gravity that the color is usually associated with. Instead, it is the blackness that “seals up all in rest” and allows the body to be at peace with death. Thomas’ use of light and dark, on the other hand, is far from gradual as the repletion of his lines take the form of a protest against the “close of day” calling for all kinds of men to “burn and rave” and “rage against the dying of the light.” Though the transformation to night is gradual, Thomas doesn’t describe an intermediate point and instead juxtaposes “bright” and dark, switching between the two and creating a sense of unrest and painting the picture of a violent and unwilling death.

Though the tones of the two poems are initially very different, they end very similarly. The voltas of both poems end with more personal addresses; in Shakespeare’s sonnet it is the dying man addressing a younger boy and in Thomas’ villanelle it is the son addressing his dying father. Though the poets stay consistent with their ideas about death, Thomas’ “Do not go gentle into that good night./ rage, rage against the dying of the light” takes on a softer meaning as it is a direction to the Father from a son who does not want to lose him. Shakespeare’s address to the younger man remains consistent in observing the gentle and natural nature of death and says, “This thou perceiv’st, which makes thy love more strong,/ To love that well which thou must leave ere long”, meaning that death makes love and appreciation of that love stronger. The lessons and perspectives are different but they could almost serve as the other half of the conversation in each poem.