Poem Analysis - Success Is Counted Sweetest

Introduction: The Bitter Taste of Sweet Success

Emily Dickinson's "Success is counted sweetest" is a concise and powerful meditation on the nature of achievement and the contrasting perspectives of victors and vanquished. The poem explores the idea that those who have never tasted success are the ones who can truly appreciate its value. With a tone that is both insightful and melancholic, the poem moves from a general observation about success to a vivid and poignant image of a dying soldier, highlighting the profound understanding that can be born from defeat.

The Value of Absence: Defining Success Through Lack

One of the central themes of the poem is the idea that the absence of something enhances its value. Dickinson argues that true appreciation for success comes from those who have "ne'er succeed." The poem uses the analogy of nectar: "To comprehend a nectar / Requires sorest need." This suggests that only those who are truly thirsty, who have experienced the "sorest need" for sustenance, can truly understand and savor the sweetness of nectar. This theme extends to the idea that understanding requires experience, particularly the experience of lacking.

Victory's Limited Perspective: When Triumph Blinds

The poem also develops the theme of the limitations of victory. Dickinson contrasts those who have achieved success ("the purple Host / Who took the Flag today") with those who have been defeated. The victors, in their triumph, are unable to "tell the definition / So clear of Victory" as those who have lost. This suggests that victory can be blinding, preventing a full comprehension of its meaning. Those who are born to success may never truly appreciate it because they have never experienced the alternative.

The Agony of Understanding: Loss as a Teacher

The most poignant theme is the bittersweet understanding that comes from defeat, specifically embodied in the image of the dying soldier. The lines, "As he defeated–dying– / On whose forbidden ear / The distant strains of triumph / Burst agonized and clear!" are incredibly powerful. The soldier, on the verge of death, gains a profound understanding of victory, not through personal achievement but through the agonizing awareness of its unattainability. The phrase "agonized and clear" perfectly captures the paradoxical nature of this understanding, where pain and clarity are intertwined. The "forbidden ear" suggests the victory is now forever out of his reach, yet that understanding has become his final reward.

Imagery and Symbolism: Purple and the Distant Strains of Triumph

The poem employs vivid imagery, particularly the "purple Host," which likely symbolizes royalty, power, and victory. Purple is a color often associated with triumph and nobility. The "Flag" represents the goal achieved, the prize won. However, it is the "distant strains of triumph" that are most striking. The word "distant" emphasizes the soldier's separation from victory, while the word "strains" suggests the effort and struggle that went into achieving it. The sounds, the signs of victory, are not his to share; they exist only as a tormenting reminder. The sound is not described in positive terms; it "bursts agonized and clear" highlighting its pain.

Conclusion: The Sweetest Success, A Tragic Truth

In conclusion, "Success is counted sweetest" is a powerful exploration of the paradoxical nature of success and defeat. Dickinson argues that true appreciation for achievement often comes from those who have experienced its absence. The poem's poignant image of the dying soldier highlights the tragic reality that understanding can be born from suffering. Ultimately, Dickinson's poem suggests that the sweetest success is not necessarily the one achieved, but the one understood, even if that understanding comes at the cost of personal triumph. The poem compels us to consider the price of victory and the hidden wisdom found in defeat.