'This Merit hath the worst' by Emily Dickinson


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This Merit hath the worst—
It cannot be again—
When Fate hath taunted last
And thrown Her furthest Stone—

The Maimed may pause, and breathe,
And glance securely round—
The Deer attracts no further
Than it resists—the Hound—

Editor 1 Interpretation

This Merit hath the worst: An In-Depth Look into Emily Dickinson's Poem

Are you ready to delve into the world of Emily Dickinson's poetry? Let's take a closer look at one of her lesser-known works, "This Merit hath the worst." This poem was written in 1864 and published posthumously in 1896 in the second series of her published works.

At first glance, the title of the poem might confuse you. What does "This Merit hath the worst" even mean? As with most of Dickinson's poetry, the true meaning lies beneath the surface. In this case, the "Merit" in question refers to a person's good qualities or accomplishments. Dickinson argues that these good qualities are actually a burden, that they "hath the worst," and ultimately lead to suffering.

The poem is comprised of four stanzas, each containing four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, with the second and fourth lines of each stanza rhyming. The consistent structure of the poem contributes to its musicality, which is a common characteristic of Dickinson's poetry.

Let's take a closer look at each stanza and analyze the meaning behind the words.

Stanza One

This Merit hath the worst — It cannot be again — When Fate hath taunted last And thrown Her furthest Stone —

The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem. "This Merit hath the worst" is a bold statement, and Dickinson wastes no time in explaining why. The line "It cannot be again" suggests that whatever has happened cannot be undone. There is a finality to this statement that implies that something irreversible has occurred.

The next two lines refer to "Fate" and the "furthest Stone." This imagery of a stone being thrown by Fate suggests a sense of randomness and lack of control. The stone has been thrown, and there is nothing that can be done to change it. The fact that it is the furthest stone that has been thrown suggests that this event is particularly significant.

Stanza Two

This merit hath the best — When longest fall'n — grow up — 'Become proficient in the worst' — The Triumph cannot be

The second stanza seems to contradict the first. Here, Dickinson argues that "This merit hath the best." What is going on here? Is Dickinson contradicting herself, or is there something deeper at play?

The first line suggests that the "merit" in question has fallen from grace. However, this fall has allowed it to "grow up" and "become proficient in the worst." This line is particularly interesting because it implies that there is value in experiencing the worst.

The final line of the stanza, "The Triumph cannot be," is somewhat ambiguous. Is Dickinson suggesting that there can be no triumph after experiencing the worst? Or is she suggesting that the triumph is in the experience itself?

Stanza Three

Defeat — becomes the victory — No fall — can rob Him of — The courage of His face — Upon the triumphing ground —

The third stanza continues the theme of the triumph in defeat. Here, Dickinson argues that "Defeat becomes the victory." This line is particularly powerful because it suggests that there is value in defeat itself.

The next line, "No fall can rob Him of," implies a sense of resilience. No matter how many times this person falls, they cannot be robbed of their courage.

The final two lines of the stanza are particularly interesting. "Upon the triumphing ground" suggests that this person has found triumph in the very place where they have experienced defeat. It is a powerful image that implies that there is always hope, even in the darkest moments.

Stanza Four

So merit hath the worst And triumph — too — so fair — That any gainer — be content — With gain so minus — here —

The final stanza brings the poem full circle. "So merit hath the worst" echoes the first line of the poem. However, the use of "And triumph — too — so fair" suggests that there is value in both the worst and the triumph.

The final two lines of the poem, "That any gainer — be content — With gain so minus — here," imply a sense of acceptance. No matter how small the gain may seem, it is still a gain. This is a powerful message that suggests that we should be grateful for what we have, even if it is not much.

Conclusion

Overall, "This Merit hath the worst" is a powerful poem that explores themes of triumph in defeat and finding value in the worst. Dickinson's use of imagery and consistent structure create a musicality that enhances the poem's message.

So what can we take away from this poem? Perhaps it is that there is value in every experience, even the worst ones. Perhaps it is that we should be grateful for what we have, even if it is not much. Whatever the message may be, it is clear that Dickinson's poetry continues to resonate with readers today.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

This Merit hath the worst is a classic poem written by Emily Dickinson, one of the most celebrated poets of the 19th century. The poem is a reflection on the nature of merit and its relationship with society. In this 2000-word analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and literary devices used in the poem to understand its meaning and significance.

The poem begins with the line "This Merit hath the worst," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The word "merit" suggests something that is deserving of praise or reward, but the use of the word "worst" implies that there is something negative about it. This paradoxical statement sets the stage for the exploration of the complex relationship between merit and society.

The first stanza of the poem describes the nature of merit. Dickinson writes, "It cannot be again- / When Fate hath taunted last / And thrown Her furthest Stone-" The use of the word "Fate" suggests that merit is something that is predetermined and beyond our control. It is something that we are born with or acquire through our actions, but once it is lost, it cannot be regained. The image of Fate throwing a stone suggests that merit is fragile and can be easily destroyed.

The second stanza of the poem explores the relationship between merit and society. Dickinson writes, "The Gig from out the Tomb / Her Gig was but an Ear / And was not meant for them-" The use of the word "Gig" suggests something that is showy or ostentatious. The fact that it comes "from out the Tomb" suggests that it is something that is associated with death or the afterlife. The line "Her Gig was but an Ear" suggests that merit is something that is only recognized by a select few. It is not meant for everyone to see or appreciate.

The third stanza of the poem explores the consequences of having merit. Dickinson writes, "The Wound may wince, and it may smart- / But when it has begun / There's naught to do but wait around- / For that befalls us then-" The use of the word "Wound" suggests that having merit can be painful. It can make us feel isolated or misunderstood. The line "There's naught to do but wait around" suggests that once we have merit, we are at the mercy of society. We cannot control how others perceive us or how they treat us.

The fourth stanza of the poem explores the nature of society. Dickinson writes, "It's sweet antagonism / In a life that has no friend-" The use of the word "antagonism" suggests that society is hostile towards those who have merit. The fact that it is "sweet" suggests that there is a certain pleasure in this hostility. The line "In a life that has no friend" suggests that those who have merit are often alone in the world. They have no one to turn to for support or understanding.

The fifth and final stanza of the poem offers a glimmer of hope. Dickinson writes, "The Poison, and the Sting- / And Restlessness and Balm- / Are both from that same Continent- / And both, now soon, and calm-" The use of the words "Poison" and "Sting" suggest that having merit can be painful. However, the fact that they are "both from that same Continent" suggests that pain and pleasure are two sides of the same coin. The line "And both, now soon, and calm" suggests that there is a sense of peace that comes with accepting the pain and pleasure that come with having merit.

In terms of structure, the poem is composed of five stanzas, each with four lines. The use of quatrains gives the poem a sense of balance and symmetry. The rhyme scheme is ABCB, which gives the poem a sense of musicality. The use of enjambment, where a sentence or phrase continues from one line to the next, gives the poem a sense of flow and momentum.

In terms of literary devices, the poem makes use of paradox, imagery, and metaphor. The paradoxical statement "This Merit hath the worst" sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The use of imagery, such as "Fate hath taunted last" and "The Gig from out the Tomb," creates vivid and memorable images in the reader's mind. The use of metaphor, such as "The Wound may wince" and "The Poison, and the Sting," helps to convey complex ideas in a concise and powerful way.

In conclusion, This Merit hath the worst is a classic poem that explores the complex relationship between merit and society. Through its use of paradox, imagery, and metaphor, the poem offers a nuanced and thought-provoking reflection on the nature of merit and its consequences. The poem's structure and literary devices give it a sense of balance, musicality, and power. Overall, This Merit hath the worst is a timeless work of poetry that continues to resonate with readers today.

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