Success is Counted Sweetest
Success is counted sweetest
By those who ne’er succeed.
To comprehend a nectar
Requires sorest need.
Not one of all the purple Host
Who took the flag today
Can tell the definition
So clear of victory.
As he defeated, dying, on his forbidden ear
The distant strains of triumph
Burst agonized and clear!
Understanding “Success is Counted Sweetest”
Emily Dickinson’s “Success is Counted Sweetest” is a concise yet profound exploration of the true value of achievement. The poem argues that success is most fully appreciated and genuinely understood not by those who readily attain it, but by those who know the sting of failure. It is a paradoxical idea that defeat, rather than victory, provides the clearest lens through which to view success. Published posthumously in 1890 by Mabel Loomis Todd, the poem continues to resonate due to its insightful perspective on human desire and the complexities of achievement. It isn’t simply a celebration of victory, but a contemplation of what victory means.
Summary of Each Stanza
The poem unfolds in three stanzas, each building upon the central idea. The first introduces the paradox: success is “counted sweetest” by those who never experience it. The second shifts the focus to a battlefield scene, contrasting those who win with a fallen soldier. The final stanza brings this contrast to a heartbreaking climax, highlighting the dying soldier’s acute understanding of triumph – an understanding born of his defeat.
In-Depth Analysis
Stanza 1: The Paradox of Appreciation
Success is counted sweetest
By those who ne’er succeed.
To comprehend a nectar
Requires sorest need.
Dickinson immediately establishes the central paradox. The repetition of “Success is counted sweetest” emphasizes this core idea. The use of “ne’er” (never) reinforces the notion that those who haven’t tasted success are the ones who truly understand its value. The poem employs a striking metaphor, comparing success to “nectar” – a rich, sweet substance. However, this sweetness isn’t casually enjoyed; “To comprehend a nectar / Requires sorest need.” Just as a thirst must be profound to savor a drink, a lack of success sharpens the perception of what success would be meaning.
Stanza 2: The Battlefield Perspective
Not one of all the purple Host
Who took the flag today
Can tell the definition
So clear of victory.
The second stanza shifts the scene to a battlefield. The “purple Host” represent the victorious army, distinguished by their royal colors. Dickinson argues that these victors lack a true understanding of “victory.” They’ve achieved it, but haven’t felt its significance in the same way as someone who has struggled. The contrast between triumph and the fallen soldier reveals the deeper theme that true victory is understood only through the experience of loss.
Stanza 3: The Dying Soldier’s Insight
As he defeated, dying, on his forbidden ear
The distant strains of triumph
Burst agonized and clear!
The final stanza delivers the poem’s most poignant moment. A dying soldier, defeated in battle, is the one who truly grasps the meaning of victory. The phrase “forbidden ear” suggests a poignant irony; he is only able to truly hear the sounds of triumph as he is losing his life. The “distant strains of triumph” are not a joyous celebration for him, but a painful reminder of what he has lost. This juxtaposition of the soldier’s acute understanding against his demise underscores the profound lesson that true victory is forged in the crucible of defeat.
Key Themes
- Paradox: Success is best understood through loss.
- Metaphor: Success is likened to nectar.
- Perspective: The poem emphasizes that genuine appreciation comes from experience of hardship.
Key Takeaways
- The central paradox is that true appreciation of success arises from hardship rather than ease.
- The battlefield imagery intensifies the contrast between victory and defeat.
- The poem’s metaphor of success as nectar highlights the delicate, elusive nature of achievement.
- Ultimately, the poem teaches that the most authentic understanding of triumph is forged through the trials of defeat.