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In "Success is counted sweetest," what can't a soldier of the "purple Host" do?
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In "Success is counted sweetest," a soldier of the "purple Host," which represents a victorious army, cannot fully comprehend the essence of their victory. Emily Dickinson argues that true understanding of success comes paradoxically from those who do not succeed, like the "defeated" and "dying" soldier who can better appreciate the concept of victory while listening to the celebrations of their enemies.
This excellent poem by Emily Dickinson explores and explains the ironical nature of comprehending success. According to Dickinson, success is only something that can be fully savoured or understood by, ironically, someone who does not succeed. Note the way the second and third stanza gives an example to support this argument by referring to a victorious army, the "purple Host," who wins a battle, yet cannot understand and comprehend success as much as a "defeated" and "dying" soldier who lies on the ground, listening to the victory celebrations of his enemies:
Not one of all the purple Host
Who took the flag today
Can tell the definition
So clear of Victory
Thus, Dickinson argues, a victorious army is not able to "tell the definition" of their "Victory" or understand the nature of their success compared to their defeated enemies. To really understand success, Dickinson seems to argue, you have to paradoxically not attain it.
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