Fearing The Unknown Reality Of Death From A Creative Standpoint

Death is an undeniable reality of the world; it happens at both expected and unexpected moments. This idea of an inescapable fate is illustrated in the poems “Because I could not stop for Death” by Emily Dickinson and “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night” by Dylan Thomas, as well as the song “Fourth of July” by Sufjan Stevens. The writers of these works convey the sentiment that death is approaching, yet they are unable to stop it.

The speaker in “Because I could not stop for Death” presents a calm, composed perspective on the transition from life to death.

In the poem, death is portrayed as a gentleman who kindly stops the speaker to ride in his carriage. She “could not stop for Death,” meaning she does not want to die. But “He kindly stop[s] for [her],” showing that her dying is unavoidable. She recognizes Death’s inevitability because he has “no haste” and is unhurried, as nothing can stop him. Along the journey, they pass by fields and a school. It illustrates how life around her continues unaffected, even as hers is about to end. Instead of being afraid or panicked, she accepts her lack of: “we passed the…sun– Or rather–he passed us.” The setting sun symbolizes the end of her journey. Since death is the natural outcome of life, there is no need to hurry, as the destination is already determined.

“Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night” presents a more defiant outlook on death while still acknowledging its inevitability from a unique perspective. 

The poem highlights the struggles that many men face as they near death. “Night” in this poem refers to death, while “light” refers to life. The speaker urges them to fight death rather than willingly accept it. He acknowledges that dying is unpreventable. Yet he continues to tell the men to fight a valiant battle before their “light” diminishes. Even those who have regrets or have learned the value of life too late must fight and live their lives fully. Filled with grief, he knows his father’s death is near but realizes there is nothing he can do to prevent it. So he presses him to prevail and “rage against the dying of the light.” 

Learning to cope with grief, the song “Fourth of July” offers a more morose interpretation of an unavoidable death. 

At the beginning, Stevens uses a metaphor comparing his mother to a firefly. It illustrates how a light that once shone brightly eventually dims. In the line, “What could I have said to raise you from the dead,” he reflects on whether he could have done something differently to bring her back. He feels that if he had acted differently, she might still be alive. His mother asks him why he is crying and inquires, “What did [he] learn from the Tillamook burn.” It emphasizes that dying is an unavoidable part of life. Towards the end of the song, she advises him to “make the most of [his] life, …while it is light,” encouraging him to live fully before his own light runs out. The final line, “we’re all gonna die,” highlights Stevens’s realization that dying is inevitable for everyone.

Based on the information above, “Because I could not stop for Death,” “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night,” and “Fourth of July” all describe how death can come at any time. They use metaphors, imagery, and personification to convey the artists’ impressions of death. It can be peaceful for those prepared or heartbreaking for those who are not. But the result remains the same: nothing can be done to avert the conclusion of life.

Featured image via Aron Visuals on Unsplash