Here's a cheery thought for you: in order to ever truly appreciate something in life, you have to first be seriously bummed out.
Think about it. The state of being happy is kind of a blissful ignorance. In order to truly appreciate anything—loved ones, possessions, accomplishments—you're going to have to go without them. This is a classic good news-bad news scenario. The bad news is that you're totally and completely dissatisfied, practically tortured by not having that thing you crave. On the plus side? At least you now, at long last, understand what it is that's missing. Whether that juice is worth the squeeze is up to you, but it's definitely the dynamic at work in "Success is counted sweetest."
Questions About Dissatisfaction
- Why is dissatisfaction to so necessary for appreciation, according to the poem?
- Do you agree that with the speaker's argument that you can only appreciate something when it's gone? Why or why not?
- Who is more satisfied in this poem: the "purple Host" or the dying soldier? How can you tell?
- What about the form and-or meter of this poem emphasizes the idea of dissatisfaction?
Chew on This
Our speaker is laying it on a little thick here. You can appreciate plenty of things without having to be separated from them.
This poem shows us that dissatisfaction is an important part of the human condition. It's something we should be happy about—or at least happier about.