Emily Dickinsons Success Is Counted Sweetest Criticism free essay sample

It is obviously seen that the message of the poem is that people who do not succeed are those who truly understand success for what it is (Cummings, 2013). In other words, deprivation can lead to greater understanding and appreciation of what people lack. This paper is composed of three points including how the unity of the paradoxical idea of the poem is presented, how the poem can be viewed historically and biographically in feminist aspects, and how the central idea of the poem is responded. The Unity of the Paradoxical Idea in the Poem A paradoxical idea appeared in the first stanza of the poem seems to be effectively united since the illustration is clearly demonstrated. The paradoxical idea is that those who do not succeed will understand the joy of success more than those who have tasted success. It is implied that the sweetness also requires people to experience the „sorest need? which is in fact, its opposite. We will write a custom essay sample on Emily Dickinsons Success Is Counted Sweetest Criticism or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page To illustrate, the paradoxical idea in the first stanza is attested by the image of a battle in the last two stanzas. Like „the sorest need? to taste the nectar, the victors or the „purple Host who took the flag? cannot understand the true meaning of a victory. They do not fully comprehend the value of victory. However, the „defeated, dying? soldiers actually do. The image of the paradox in the last two stanzas is similar to the idea of the first one. Thus, the paradoxical idea seems to effectively convey the underlying meaning of the whole poem. In other words, the paradoxical ideas in the poem are successfully arranged in unity. Women’s Viewpoint Based on Historical and Biographical Knowledge According to historical and biographical background of the poet, the poem reflects to feminist movements in the middle of 19th century. After researching for the poet? s biography and historical events at that time, it seems that the poem represents the desire of women of that time for equality with men. To begin with, the use of the word nectar? along with the word sweet? in the first stanza implies femininity. It can be assumed that there is a message from a woman? s point of view. According to history and her biography, Emily Dickinson had modernist ideas that women should have as equal rights as men which they did not have at that time. In fact, women, especially wives, were treated as the slaves of men in the eyes of the law even though women can do several duties that men cannot. Therefore, women started to work and to express their voice. (Leiter, 2007). This background knowledge can be understood to explain when success „to comprehend a nectar? changes to „victory? in the last two stanzas. The image of a battle which causes physical and mental pain to the defeated soldiers (men) is mentioned as „agonized.? It is clear that even though men are strong, they still have weaknesses as shown in the image of losing the battle. It is showed that both genders have weaknesses. Therefore, both of them should be equal. This feminist idea is considered to be a dominant one during Emily? s lifetime. The Response to the Central Idea of the Poem After reading the first stanza, the central idea of the poem seems absolutely right to me. The whole poem captivates my attention to realize the value of what I am deprived. It can be said that people who never achieve anything will consider those things very important and more valuable than those who have already had them. It is similar to the feeling of the sport players who always lose to their opponents, the students who fail to study in a college or a university they long for, or those who lack money to sustain their lives. All of them acknowledge the true meaning or importance of what they lack. Like the „defeated, dying? soldiers in the poem, they have never obtained the opportunity to taste the victory for which they yearn. It seems to me that this idea can be applied to use in daily life in order to enhance the attempt to succeed everything and to realize the importance of what we have. In conclusion, the poem represents the idea that deprivation can lead to greater understanding and appreciation of what we lack and of the benefits of success. The poem was effectively written in unity by using the paradoxical idea. In addition, the poem can reflect ideas of women? movements for equality based on historical and biological background of the poet. The poem is also captivated me as a reader and can be adapted to use for everyday life as well.