Richard Cory
Regardless of economic depression, the decade of the 1890s is nostalgically referred to as “The Gay Nineties” (Drew) and produced some of the most decadent writings, art, music, and play-writes of the time. Two authors to come out of this were Paul Laurence Dunbar and Edwin Arlington Robinson, authors of the poems “We Wear the Mask” and “Richard Cory” respectively. Both poems have a somber tone through the stanzas and neither suggest a happy outcome. The struggle differs in each poem as one alludes to the African American struggle through the Reconstructive Period and Progressive Era, and the other tells of a sad tale regarding a high class white man committing suicide during the Panic of 1893. It is clear both pieces emanate feelings of loss,
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For the most part, we perceive our self-worth as parallel with the amount of money we make; this has been an integral part of America for centuries and this statement stands true especially through depressions that America experiences. “Richard Cory” was written in 1897 towards the end of the Panic of 1893 in which many families rich and poor lost homes, money, and livelihoods. Most of the “rich got richer” such as bankers and political names, and the “poor got poorer” (Parshall) such as farmers and laborers. Richard Cory, who is the main character in the poem “Richard Cory”, is supposedly “richer than a king –“ (9 Robinson) and is admired by those in his town. They respect him and “[think] that he [is] everything/ To make [them] wish [they] were in his place.” (11-12 Robinson), but the depression had not only created sorrows for the townspeople but for Richard Cory as well. It is not known what Richard Cory did for a living, but history could suggest that he had a lot of money in stocks and bonds, most of which were lost during this economic crash. With all of his money lost and nothing to gain from a torn apart society, those around Richard Cory have no idea the mental instabilities that he experiences and so shoots himself in the head “one calm summer night,” (15 Robinson). It is
For the most part, we perceive our self-worth as parallel with the amount of money we make; this has been an integral part of America for centuries and this statement stands true especially through depressions that America experiences. “Richard Cory” was written in 1897 towards the end of the Panic of 1893 in which many families rich and poor lost homes, money, and livelihoods. Most of the “rich got richer” such as bankers and political names, and the “poor got poorer” (Parshall) such as farmers and laborers. Richard Cory, who is the main character in the poem “Richard Cory”, is supposedly “richer than a king –“ (9 Robinson) and is admired by those in his town. They respect him and “[think] that he [is] everything/ To make [them] wish [they] were in his place.” (11-12 Robinson), but the depression had not only created sorrows for the townspeople but for Richard Cory as well. It is not known what Richard Cory did for a living, but history could suggest that he had a lot of money in stocks and bonds, most of which were lost during this economic crash. With all of his money lost and nothing to gain from a torn apart society, those around Richard Cory have no idea the mental instabilities that he experiences and so shoots himself in the head “one calm summer night,” (15 Robinson). It is