You may have heard the phrase "suffer for your art" before. It's true that suffering is often framed as the path for personal enrichment. We're not sure whether that's just meant to make sufferers feel better, or if it's actually true. One thing is sure, though: when it comes to suffering, the speaker of "Success is counted sweetest" is all in.
Now, we talk about the theme of dissatisfaction elsewhere in "Themes," but there is another level to being dissatisfied that this poem is going for, something more profound than just not being able to get what you want. That's where suffering comes in. In essence, the poem is telling us "Gee, we bet you never appreciated how good it is to have ten working fingers until you slammed three of them in your car door." Suffering yields appreciation and insight, goes the argument. So stick your hand in that doorframe and slam away.
Questions About Suffering
- What is it about suffering that produces insight? How might the speaker answer this question?
- How comforting would this poem be to someone who's suffering? Why do you think so?
- Are there any drawbacks to the suffering depicted in this poem?
Chew on This
The poem shows us that the only path to true insight is through suffering.
Actually, this poem is way off. It doesn't take suffering to appreciate or understand something. It just takes a bit of reflection.