Symbol Analysis
Hungry for success? People are frequently described this way. But why? What's at work in this figurative expression? We think it might have something to do with how crucial eating is to, well, everything really. If you don't eat, then soon enough you will cease to be.
This makes eating—and tasting—a pretty powerful experience. Those who are "hungry for success" often want it so badly that they can "taste" it. What is this, personal fulfillment or a pizza buffet? This poem's imagery suggests that it might be a bit of both.
- Line 1: Who wouldn't want a big bowl of success, served up with a cherry on top? The adjective "sweetest" underscores just how powerful wanting something can be. People don't just want success in the abstract. It's a physical experience, practically part of their taste buds.
- Lines 3-4: "Nectar" is a telling choice of example here. Back in Homer's day, nectar was represented as the gods' beverage of choice. It's what they guzzled to wash down all that ambrosia. Here, the drink is something that can be understood by someone who really, truly needs a drink. You don't get the full range of its taste-tacular nature unless you're dying for a sip.