Analysis of Richard Cory
In both Edwin Arlington Robinson and Paul Simon's versions of the poem "Richard Cory" the author investigates the supposedly anonymous surfaces of life in a peculiar and rather cryptic manner. These men both describe through the use of one man, Richard Cory, and his experiences to view the contrast between those surfaces and the torture and torment that could lie beneath them. There is an equal premise in both poems; a wealthy man who is idolized and envied by those who consider themselves less fortunate, commits suicide. Although there are many comparisons between the two poems, there are slight differences in tone, meter, and the overall character of Richard Cory. In Robinson's poem, Richard Cory is described as a true gentleman, who was "quietly arrayed" and "always human when he talked." He never publicly displayed his wealth and believed even the poorest man deserved his politeness and respect. Robinson's word choice to describe Richard Cory such as the use of the phrases "sole to crown" and "imperially slim" categorizes and abandons Cory in an elevated class he loathed being associated with. Thus, Cory is seen as a regal figure that is unwillingly cast apart, torn away from society and his admiring subjects.
Furthermore, his life was meaningless to him, because of his lack of spiritual values. " This "system" consisted basically of government but also encompassed going against what they considered to be antiquated, organized religious beliefs. Another interpretation is that if Richard Cory did not believe that he could continue in life, how could the speaker believe it either? Both poems seem lifeless until they are dissected and all of their hidden and symbolic meaning is exposed. From the first line of the first stanza, Simon zeros in directly on Richard Cory's wealth and status. Again, there is no evidence of Richard Cory's real character, only the shell of materialism that surrounded him. The reader is only given the comments of the people about him, except about his last act, which speaks for itself. " He was "born into society" and flaunted his money as an escape from his unhappy life. here does the speaker give direct evidence of Richard Cory's real character. It was written in AABB format as opposed to Robinson's, which was written in ABAB. Belief in the light is one thing that the people had that Corey lacked. Cory, with all of his wealth and glittering status, did not. Both versions, Robinson's more than Simon's, have a rich complexity that becomes more and more gratifying with each reading. Except at the end, in both poems, the poet selected the most ordinary incidents as the point of focus and plays down all emotion, making the reaction to Richard Cory's murder even more shocking and unsettling. " The speaker in this poem possibly did not care about who Cory really was; he just idolizes Cory's ability to do whatever he wants because he has money. The community seems sourer about their status than in Robinson's poem.
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Acceptance Essays
