Richard Cory By Edwin Arlington Robinson

Edwin Arlington Robinson wrote “Richard Cory,” in 1897. Robinson was born in Alna, Maine in 1869. He came from a successful family where his father was a lumber merchant. Robinson’s schooling began at Mrs. Morrell’s School, which was only a short walk from his home. As a very introverted child, Robinson became very interested in the sound of words. He was known throughout his neighborhood for showing up in doorways and crying out very difficult words like “Nebuchadnezzar,” (Smith, Danny). His poem, “Richard Cory,” is a poem that uses strong situational irony. “Richard Cory,” is written in a very straightforward form. I feel that Robinson wrote the poem in this way to make his points of the characters life very direct as if there is nothing to hide. The reader of the poem is meant to feel as if they
Robinson sets the poem up to convince the readers that Richard Cory is a rich and happy man. He does this by describing him as “a gentleman from sole to crown, / Clean favored and imperially slim.” Robinson described his wealth in the poem by writing “And he was rich—yes, richer than a king— / and admirably schooled in every grace:” (715). By setting up Richard Cory’s perfect life, it makes readers envious of him. Throughout the poem readers grow almost jealous of Richard Cory. The last two stanzas of the poem describe the jealousy that the readers generate but then strong situational irony takes over the poem and changes our view of Richard Cory and his so called lavish life. “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