Richard Cory - by Edwin Arlington Robinson
Richard
Cory - by
Edwin Arlington Robinson
We people on the pavement looked at him:
He was a gentleman from sole to crown,
Clean favored, and imperially slim.
And he was always human when he talked;
But still he fluttered pulses when he said,
"Good morning," and he glittered
when he walked. 
And admirably schooled in every grace:
In fine, we thought that he was everything
To make us wish that we were in his place.
And went without the meat, and cursed the
bread;
And Richard Cory, one calm summer night,
Went home and put a bullet through his head.
He
was an American poet. He was born on December 22, 1869. He was one of the most
remarkable poets of the early 20th century. His “collected poems
(1921) won the first Pulitzer prize. He is also remembered for few short poems.
Robinson was noted for his devotion to his art and led a solitary life. His
well-known works are “The Torrent And The Night Before” (1896), “Captain Craig”
(1902), “The Man Against The Sky” (1916), “King Jasper” (1935). “The Children Of
The Night” contains the story of Richard Cory is – a gentleman clean and
favored who one summer night went home and put a bullet through his head.
In
1935 he fell ill with cancer, hospitalized and until his death he was
correcting galley proofs of his last poem, “King Jasper”. After his death. He
was honored as American’s foremost poet who is dedicated to his art.
Short summary of
Richard Cory
Richard
Cory a good looking gentleman admires by all of the nearby Town, Richard is
friendly, rich and modestly dressed, rich gentleman. Every one admires him and
envies him. But one day Richard Cory despite his money, good looks and high
status in society, goes home and shoots himself in the head.
Stanza -1
“Whenever Richard Cory went down tow,
We people on the pavement looked at him,
He was a gentleman from sole to crown.
Clean, favored and imperially slim”
Stanza 2
”And he was always quietly arrayed,
And he was always human
when he talked,
But still he fluttered
pluses when he said,
“Good morning” and he
glittered when he walked” 
Now
the speaker wants to bring out Richard’s nature. He is a nice guy. He does not
show any differences to any common people who are less than him. He is not a man
of arrogance. He is always human when he talks. He is very friendly with everyone. Even though he is not arrogant or proud, he
makes the people little uneasy for, they look at him as gold when he passes
them. The poet wants to paint Richard as a friendly person who could move with
anyone easily but his manner and life style and gentleman look give an effect
on people.
Stanza 3
“And he was rich – yes, richer than a king,
And admirably schooled in
every grace:
In fine, we thought that
he was everything
To make us wish that we were in his place.”
This
stanza says about the wealthy life of Richard. He goes to the extent of
comparing Richard with a king. It could be observed that the speakers refers to
Richard’s life style, education, good manners and his down to earth nature. Not
to kings wealth “We” refers to the on lookers or admirers of Richard Cory. They
say Richard has everything to live happily with satisfaction. They wish they
were Richard. They wish a life of him. They dream to have a wealthy life of Richard.
”So on we worked, and waited for the light,
And went without the
meat, and cursed bread,
And Richard Cory one calm
summer night,
Went home and put a bullet through his head”. 
Once
again the speaker brings out differences of life style of both two socio –
economic classes. The work classes admire the wealthy life style of Richard
Cory. For they struggle a lot. Each day is a battle for them to get what they
want. They work hard, they sacrifice their desires and wants. Also they
complain about the low quality of the things they could buy. The shock starts
in the last two line. Richard Cory the man of success, happiness and the man
who has everything kills himself. No one could understand the reason of his
death. He disappeared like flash.
The
last stanza teaches us that appearances are deceiving. Life is much more than
mere false appearance. It is a perfect poem of Edwin Arlington Robinson, as he
brings out truth about life; nature of human personality, money, wealth, look
and life style could not protect him from his pain and misfortune.
Literary Devices
The speaker starts and
ends the poem in the first person plural
There
is no study of insight of Richard Cory.
Form and Meter
Metaphor
A metaphor is
a figure of speech that is used to make a comparison between two things that
aren't alike but do have something in common
Richard
Cory is richer than a king. He is compared to the king’s wealth. Richard is a
wealthy man.
Alliteration and Assonance
A literary Device in which series of words begin with same
consonants sound.
“People
on the pavement” repeats. The initial sound of the letter “P” is a good example
of Alliteration in lines 5 and 7 “arrayed” rhymes with “said”.
Irony
The
expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the
opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect.
Although
Richard has everything, He is a man of everything in life. He does not suffers
for worldly materials but commits suicide. The man who should live as he has
everything, kills himself.
Genre
Short
16 lines poem.
Setting
The
place or type of surroundings where something is positioned or where an event
takes place.
An
urban area where Richard goes to down town a business district, where he could
meet working classes and apartment dwellers. The suicide of Richard occurs in
summer.
Tone
Antagonist - a person who actively opposes or is hostile
to someone or something; an adversary.
Richard
Cory is the protagonist. The speaker and other common folk who admire Richard
are the Antagonist as they fail to see the real life of Richard
Climax
Richard
kills himself with any warning
Foreshadow
There
is no indication of Richard’s personal life. No one knows his distress or
depression. All are attracted to his appearance. They long for his rich life
style. They wish and dream his wealthy successful life. They do not notice any
warning signs. “We” if they were in Richard’s place what could have happened?
It is a foreshadowing form.
Understatement
The
people looked at Richard with great admiration. But they fail to look at his
pain.
Allusions
An expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference.
Richard
Cory is “imperially” slim. This refers to Royalty and empire
Personification
Richard
Cory personifies wealth, success and socio-economic differences.
Exaggerated
statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.
“Richer
than a king” the comparison of Richard to a king is an exaggeration. But it is
made with a purpose to bring out his wealthy life.
Onomatopoeia
The
formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named
“Fluttered
pulses” gives an Onomatopoeia effect.
Symbol
A
mark or character used as a conventional representation of an object, function,
or process, e.g. the letter or letters standing for a chemical element or a
character in musical notation.
“Imperially
slim” – Richard Cory is slim, no need to do hard work for his wants. He does
not work as he is rich enough. He is not fat as he could eat anything he likes.
This suggests Richard is not only rich but also comfortable. “Pavement” refers
to common folk the laborers and shop keepers and who lack manners and
educational background of Richard Cory “human” refers to Richard’s simplicity.
He is a down to earth person.
Allegory
His
death says Richard did not connect himself with anyone. He did not share his
personal problems, his depression with any. His lonely life ends with his
suicide.
Thus
this thought provoking poem says health, wealth and appearance could not
prevent a death. They are merely the materials to quench our desires and want.
Life is more than money, wealth and appearance.
***
Thank you
It is a PMC Presentation
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