Success is Counted Sweetest (Essay In Progress)

Literary Analysis

April 1, 2009

Success and Comprehension: Akin, or Adversarial?

While Emily Dickinson writes of success as a sort of ethereal nectar, she also condemns it by elevating the idea of success to a virtually unattainable plateau. Dickinson parallels success with a group of select few who are able to actually identify and appreciate it: the defeated. The notion of comprehension seen within Success is Counted Sweetest prevails throughout the entire poem. While Dickinson seems to portray comprehension as a means to an end, she is in fact showing us a literary mirror in comprehension’s stead: The reader then sees what the reader wishes to see. In doing so, rather than seeing success through comprehension, we are shown victory through loss. One question remains however; is comprehension a tool to understanding victory, or achieving it?


Read the Poem: "Success is Counted Sweetest".

Snow = Bad, Freezing Rain = Poopy, Hence Bad=Poopy

Well no more snow anymore. But seems like we've traded it in for an even worse evil than usual for this time of year. With the temperature way above freezing, I've never almost slipped and broke my back like I almost had several times this morning from the slicked grass and parking lots thanks to the sudden and brief watery downfall.

Oh well, what can we do but wait and pray for some 'normal' weather.. that is unless you actually like this freaky weather, in which case we are on TOTALLY different wavelengths.

Creative Lull

As you may have noticed, my posting has slowed to a relative halt. This is due to many things, only one of which is fatigue. I've just recently started into a new line of work, that is of course on what I like to call the "alternative scheduling calendar" or to the rest of you, night shift.

It is interesting however in that living in an alternate (ie: opposite) sort of plane allows for an equally alternate perspective within your place of living. Take the busy streets for example, when it would take 12 minutes to cross the road at high noon at the intersection, it takes me less than a minute to calmly stroll right across.

Other than the intruiging alternate perspective however, I'm just trying to hang in there.. I miss sunshine!