Original Poem
Richard Cory Whenever Richard Cory went downtown, 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 quietly arrayed, 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 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. So on we worked, and waited for the light, 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. Edwin Arlington Robinson
Translation (English)
Whenever Richard Cory went to town,
We people on the street watched him;
He was a gentleman from head to toe,
Well-liked and elegantly thin.
And he was always dressed simply,
And he was always friendly when he spoke;
But still, he made us excited when he said,
'Good morning,' and he shone when he walked.
And he was rich - yes, richer than a king ---
And very well-educated in every way:
In short, we thought he was everything
That made us wish we were him.
So we kept working, hoping for better times,
And went without good food, and complained about what we had;
And Richard Cory, one calm summer night,
Went home and shot himself in the head.
About the Poet
Edwin Arlington Robinson (Late 19th to early 20th century)
Edwin Arlington Robinson was an American poet known for his short, dramatic poems concerning the lives of ordinary people. He won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry three times and was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature four times.
Read more on Wikipedia →Historical Context
- Literary Form
- Narrative poem
- When Written
- 1897
- Background
- The poem reflects the disparity between outward appearances and inner realities, a common theme in Robinson's work. It explores the illusion of wealth and happiness, and the hidden struggles of individuals.
Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Cory, https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44982/richard-cory, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Arlington_Robinson
Detailed Explanation
The poem 'Richard Cory' by Edwin Arlington Robinson tells the story of a man who appears to have everything: wealth, education, and admiration from those around him. The townspeople envy him, believing he embodies the ideal life. However, the poem takes a dark turn in the final stanza, revealing that despite his outward success, Richard Cory was deeply unhappy and ultimately took his own life. This stark contrast between appearance and reality highlights the theme of hidden despair and the misconception that wealth equates to happiness. The poem uses simple language and a straightforward narrative to convey a powerful message about the human condition and the dangers of envy and assumption.
Themes
Literary Devices
Word Dictionary
| Word | Meaning | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| pavement | sidewalk | the path or sidewalk where people walk |
| gentleman | polite man | a man who is polite and well-mannered |
| crown | top of head | the top part of the head |
| imperially | royally | in a way that is grand or royal |
| arrayed | dressed | dressed in a particular way |
| fluttered | excited | caused excitement or nervousness |
| glittered | shone | sparkled or shone brightly |
| admirably | impressively | in a way that is worthy of admiration |
| grace | elegance | elegance or refinement in movement or manner |
| cursed | complained about | expressed dissatisfaction or annoyance |
| bullet | projectile | a small metal projectile for a gun |
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