Emily Dickinson is one of the more famous female poets that commonly wrote on the themes of death and immortality. Our class assignment was to read a cliche of Dickinson's poems and the one I related to the most was "Success is Counted Sweetest." This poem demonstrates the idea that people who gain success do not appreciate their achievements as much as someone who experiences defeat. A person that repeatedly loses has something to work for, whereas a common winner is simply expected to win. The underdog is typically rooted for during sports because people like to see the team that can rise above even when all odds are against them.
"Not one of all the purple host
Who took the flag to-day
Can tell the definition,
So clear, of victory"
Who took the flag to-day
Can tell the definition,
So clear, of victory"
This stanza expresses that the defeated, dying
man understands victory more clearly than a victorious army. He understands it better, because he desires it more. This concept can be difficult to grasp until you have personally lost something/someone. I believe that everyone deserves to experience success, but I only hope that they first experience some form of defeat so they can fully enjoy their success.
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