Richard Cory
Edwin Arlington Robinson
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Today we are discussing the poem Richard Cory by Edwin Arlington Robinson. The title is a
little bit different. Isn‟t it. Unlike the other titles. When we talk about other titles such as “To
the Evening Star”, “The Eagle” etc. we have something to discuss in the title. The title gives
us an early clue. But here in this title, It does not give us any clue. It is merely a name of a
man. Even it does not reveal or it does not give any hint about the age of this man too. He
may be a child, a teenager or an old man. It does not give us any clue. Just merely a name
of a man. But in this factor there is a curiosity because it is written about a “Man” not about
a „Woman‟. Therefore, it creates certain curiosity in the reader‟s mind. Doesn‟t it? As we
know, poems or songs are written about men very rarely. Even in our Sinhala literature, we
find only handful of songs and poems written about men.
So, if any poem or song has been written about a man, then, he should be a specific
character. “Lord Buddha, Jesus Christ and Father” all they are special characters, so,
poems and songs have been written about them. Then there is a hint here too. Richard Cory
must be an exceptional character.
Let‟s talk about the writer too. Edwin Arlington Robinson was an American poet. This
American poet, here, he highlights difference between two classes. This poem is not merely
a flattery about a man. When you read the poem you will understand whether this is a mere
flattery about a man or not.
This poem consists of four stanzas. Out of the four three have been dedicated to tell us
about the character of Richard Cory. The first two lines of the last stanza only which
describes the life of the narrator.
You see the poem has been narrated by people those who belong to the lowest class of the
society. They were from the pavement. Who are these people on the pavement. They are
the downtown dwellers. There are two areas uptown and downtown. Down town is the area
where most of the lowest class people live in. When someone in a lower status usually, see
someone from uptown greatly. For them Richard Cory is a very great person. You know the
birds eye view and the worm eye view. Birds look from the higher position. So, everything
looks very tiny to birds. But worms are on the ground. When they look up, they see
everything very large.
Let‟s see the first stanza.
Whenever Richard Cory went downtown,
We people on the pavement looked at him.
This poem is narrated in the simple past tense. Whenever Richard Cory went to downtown.
At the beginning, we have a doubt. Richard Cory either stopped going to the downtown or
he is no more. that‟s why it is narrated in the simple past tense.
“We people who are on the pavement looked at him”
Who are we? that means we are downtown people. We are the lowest class people in the
society. Maybe those who have no proper shelter; helpless people. The people of that class
looked at Richard Cory. So, why did they look at him. did Richard Cory have power.
The poet says, “He was the gentleman from sole to Crown” It is [s-o-l-e] sole we say such
words Homonyms. Homonyms have different spellings, different meanings but the same
pronunciation. This word can be a homonym. The poet mean from the foot to the head.
But the poet has mentioned “crown” that means
Richard Cory has been regarded as the
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king. And there is another word “Soul”. The poet might have meant he is a gentleman from
the soul. That means he is a gentleman to the literal sense is his a gentleman.
And he was always quietly arrayed. He was quietly surrounded by people. He sometimes
had charismatic power. What is charisma. That means to attract people towards oneself.
This charismatic power, it does not remain each and every place in the same way or in the
same degree. A teacher might have charismatic power with the students but out of the
class they won’t have. Richard Cory had charismatic power among the downtown people
only. But he did not have that among the people of his class. People usually like when they
has Charismatic power. Don’t they? Remember upside-down. If there is a circus he rushes
there because he likes crowded places because he can show his colours to those people.
Richard Cory had the charismatic power among the downtown people. that’s why he
always visited downtown I suppose. Downtown people they thought he was rich. Richer
than the king.
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.
In the final stanza the narrator said.
So on we worked, and waited for the light.
And went without the meat, and cursed the bread;
In the final stanza, the narrator said,
“So on we worked, and waited for the light”,
Who could these people be? They see the light after finishing work. Therefore, these people
could be miners in my point of view. But figuratively, we can say like this too. Every worker
works for the light. Everyone works hard hoping any improvement. Anyhow, these people
have taken as miners. They can be minor miners.
“And went without the meat, and curse the bread”.
After coming out of work, they have to have their meal without meat. that means it was
such a meagre meal. We can understand the class difference or the class discrimination
here. Those who work hard do not get even a proper meal. But people like Richard Cory do
not work hard but they have all he wealth and luxurious life. So, we can see this poem
highlights the social discrimination as well. They cursed the bread. bread means here the
meal. Here curse means complains about the meagre meal.
Finally what happened. “And Richard Cory one calm summer night. Went home and put a
bullet through his head”
Eventually, the protagonist committed suicide. But the writer did not mention why he
committed suicide. Apparently it is reasonless. But there must have hidden reason. Maybe
society pressure. Maybe loneliness he suffered. He committed suicide in one calm summer
night. America is a cold country. So, summer night is an enjoyable time for them. Richard
Cory chose such a nice night to commit suicide.
Any way this poem suggests us a great lesson. We must not judge people by looking at the
outer appearance of people. Don’t judge the book by its cover.