Richard Cory by Edwin Arlington Robinson

‘Ricard Cory’ is a paradoxical poem which raises the popular issue of worldly image and inner reality. Depicting the difficult times of the economic depression in 1893, the poem shows the plight of the commoners who could not afford to meat and had to be content eating bread.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on ‘Richard Cory’ by Edwin Arlington Robinson specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The traditional verse style juxtaposed with the simple language used by Arlington is typical of American literary modernism. The theme of the poem fits it perfectly in the genre of American Modern poetry which aims at destroying the traditional myths held by society in general. The poem has a universal appeal and even though it was written so many years ago, continues to be appropriate in today’s times. The subject is modern and is valid even today. In modern times when wealth is equated with happiness, the poem destroys the myth that being rich can be equated with being happy. Arlington’s poem Richard Cory is a modern attempt by the poet to â€Å"scatter conventional taboos† (Perkins Perkins 130). Richard Cory who is a wealthy and powerful gentleman, commits suicide despite the luxuries he enjoys. The poet remarkably presents the case that money and power do not guarantee inner peace and happiness. The poem is an interesting account of the rich and famous Richard Cory who is envied by the poor townspeople. He is stylish and elegant and has all the riches in the world to keep him happy. The towns people are floored by his personality and adore his good looks. Not only do they admire his physical traits but also his kindness reflected in his manners which were â€Å"always human when he talked† (Richard Cory, line 6). Richard Cory is a gentleman from â€Å"soul to crown† with his â€Å"clean-favored and imperially slim† (Richard Cory, line 3 4) persona which â€Å"fluttered pulses† when he greeted people humanely (Richard Cory, line 7). The narrator is so much in awe of Richard Cory that he thinks he is â€Å"richer than a king† with his perfect â€Å"grace† (Richard Cory, line 9,10). The townspeople considered him ideal in every way and desired strongly to be â€Å"in his place† (Richard Cory, line 12). Richard Cory was deemed a superior being by the people of the town that they simply adored him in every way.Advertising Looking for essay on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, ironically, while the entire town admired Richard Cory and strongly desired to be in his place, one night Richard Cory â€Å"went home and put a bullet in his head† (Richard Cory, line 16). While he appeared to have all the riches in the world, he was spiritually hollow. He was apparently not as calm as visible on the exterior. His calm and poised exterior were a contrast with his unhappy and the stormy mental state. In the poem, Arlington juxtaposes two important elements, worldly wealth and spiritual happiness. While Richard Cory had all the luxuries, he lacked inner peace, happiness and content. Externally he was the object of envy while internally he was depressed and sad. The poem presents the severe reality that richness and grandeur are certainly not indicators of happiness and spiritual peace. The song is based on the poem Richard Cory. The theme is identical and majority of the song is similar to the poem. However, there are few changes to add more punch to it. In keeping with the modern times, the singer has added that Richard Cory was powerful due to his political connections. Also, in the original poem, there are no yacht parties which are common to the rich and famous people in todays times. There are some omissions from the original poem which depict Richard Cory as a quiet gentleman, whereas in the song he is shown to be a flamboyant man enjoying his wealth and riches. It is obvious that modifications to the song have been made to depict the character of the modern man today. Works Cited Perkins, George, Barbara, Perkins. The American Tradition in Literature, Volume II. 12th Ed. New York: McGraw-Hill. 2007. Print. Robinson, Edwin Arlington. â€Å"Richard Cory.† Print. This essay on ‘Richard Cory’ by Edwin Arlington Robinson was written and submitted by user Danny Garrett to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here. 'Richard Cory' by Edwin Arlington Robinson In the poem ‘Richard Cory’, Edwin Arlington Robinson depicts the theme of spiritual emptiness. The poet uses traditional form combined with lean modern language, a characteristic of American Literary Modernism. The poem is a simple and dramatic account of rich and famous Richard Cory who is adored and envied by the commoners. The poem artistically presents the picture of a perfect man, who is a rich and polite, â€Å"gentleman from sole to crown† (line 3). He was â€Å"always human when he talked† (line 6).Advertising We will write a custom article sample on ‘Richard Cory’ by Edwin Arlington Robinson specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More He has the perfect resources for leading a happy life in times when the commoners were struggling to make ends meet. However Richard Cory ends his life in a rather dramatic and shocking manner when â€Å"one calm summer night† he â€Å"Went home and put a bullet through his head† (line 15-16). The final two lines of the poem candidly inform the reader of Cory’s sudden suicide, symbolizing his spiritual barrenness and discontent with life. In the poem, Robinson paints an enviable and admirable picture of Richard Cory as a fine gentleman who was â€Å"richer than a king† (line 9), but commits suicide. The poet exhibits a â€Å"renewed sense of responsibility for fellow human beings† through the poignant theme prevailing over the poem (Perkins Perkins 130). By juxtaposing two strikingly different elements in the poem, economic social success and spiritual vacuum, Robinson leaves the reader with a crucial thought; do social success and wealth connote real happiness? Cory was extremely rich and had all the reasons to be happy, but chose to die by putting a bullet through his head, exposing his misery and spiritual hollowness. Through his modern poetry, Robinson demonstrates the â€Å"determination to scatter conventional taboos† (Perkins Perkins 130). Robinson clearly flits into the genre of American Literary Modernism because the poem is â€Å"a renaissance that targeted the fundamental institutions and cultural assumptions of society† (Perkins Perkins 130). Robinson’s simple yet alluring poetic style makes the poem interesting to read and difficult to forget. What appeals to me most is the juxtaposition of a straightforward classical style with a strong personal and modern intriguing subject. The poem is a calm and lucid account of Richard Cory, who is a rich and happy gentleman by society standards. He has immense monetary possessions which will make him worthy of envy. The simple account of Cory’s flamboyant life is contrasted with his shocking end. Without making the poem too dramatic in content, the poet sends out a clear message – worldly success is not a barometer for happiness. Worldly riches may make life comfortable but fail to bring peace and harmony. The poem is an example of a perfect rhetoric, simple and eloquent, alongside an honest theme projecting brutal reality.Advertising Looking for article on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In the song, Paul Simon, seems to be intrigued by the richness, flamboyance and social success of Richard Cory. Simon has made some additions to the original poem. He has added lines to show Cory’s political connections and yacht parties to the song. He has also adds that Cory owns â€Å"one half of this whole town†, as an exaggeration of his social and financial status. Simon has omitted the physical qualities of grace and good character from the song, originally present in the poem, â€Å"And he was always quietly arrayed,  And he was always human when he talked† (line 4-5). Simon omitted and added lines to the poem to exaggerate it and make it more catchy and appealing to the listeners . Also, the song has been modified to reflect current times when success and richness are associated with politics and grandiosity. Bibliography Perkins, George, Barbara, Perkins. The American Tradition in Literature, Volume II. 12th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill. 2007. Print. Robinson, Edwin Arlington. â€Å"Richard Cory.† The American Tradition in Literature, Volume II. 12th ed. Eds. Perkins George and Barbara Perkins. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2007. 137. Print. This article on ‘Richard Cory’ by Edwin Arlington Robinson was written and submitted by user Trevon Calderon to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.