Dylan Thomas and September 11th

Paper Summary:

By examining several of Dylan Thomas' poems, the paper shows how his continuous themes of the unity of life, the continuing process of life and death, and the life-link between generations are all relevant to society today, despite the fact that Thomas has been dead for over 50 years. The paper shows that in the wake of September 11th, his works, though not exactly comforting, do provide an outlet for a nation suddenly forced to deal with the harsh realities of life and death.

From the Paper:

"A final strength of Thomas's work is that he asks hard questions without proposing easy answers. He accepts death in the sense that he knows it is a part of life and must be, but he offers no platitudes about its goodness or rightness. Indeed, in one of his most famous poems, he urges, ?Do not go gentle into that good night. / Rage, rage against the dying of the light.? In another poem, "Out of the Pit," he questions, ?[W]here's God's my Shepherd, God is Love? / No loving shepherd in this upside life.? In his avoidance of the "quick fix," Thomas respects his own and his readers' fear and hatred of death while acknowledging its reality. "

More papers on Dylan Thomas and September 11th:

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• Analytical Essay # 21745 : "Dylan Thomas and the Romanticism"

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