Richard Cory

“Gentleman from sole to crown” (3) Richard Cory is portrayed as a man of great status and nobility through the regal diction of the poem.  This directly associates Richard Cory with not only prosperity, but also respected royalty.  In this manner Richard Cory is portrayed as successful, but more importantly in high regards among the people.  Adverbs found within the poem also express the royalty of Richard Cory describing him as “imperially slim” (4) and “admirably schooled in every grace” (10).  These particular words, such as imperial and admirable all carry separate meanings; however their overall connotation is one of esteem.  Other examples of this regal diction are even more conspicuous describing Richard Cory as “richer than a king” (9) and portray Richard Corey as a man looked up to and admired among the people.

However the praise of Richard Cory serves not to pay tribute to the man, but rather to display the irony of his condition.  Characterized as nothing less than a king and a man of great nobility, those around him “thought that he was everything” (11).  Those beneath him view his life as perfect and Richard Cory draws the envy of all those around him, including the speaker.  In fact, the speaker does not speak of his admiration of Richard Cory singularly, never making use of the word “I”, only “we” and “us”, representing the mutual envy of all for this man.  All of these people look upon Richard Cory “wish(ing) that we were in his place” (12).  Yet, despite the perception of Richard Cory’s perfect life, and the desire of others to live like him, the poem ends as he takes his own life and commits suicide.  The irony of such an event points out the disparity between other’s perception of Richard Cory’s perfect life, success, and wealthy and his own perception of his life.  While others look on in envy and wish to have his life Richard Cory himself decides to end it.  In all actuality although others “curse” their life in relation to Cory’s, it is Richard Cory that truly curses his own life, unbeknownst to the envious people.

This disparity of beliefs is the central commentary of the poem, portraying the inability of power, money, and success to provide happiness.  Richard Cory is presented as a man with a perfect life in the view of those around him, a target of envy and jealousy, coveted for his “perfect” life.  Yet those envious of him, in far less favorable life conditions, unable to even purchase meat, continue to live their lives, and it is the successful Richard Cory who is unable to bear living.  In this respect all the success and wealth attained in life have in no way improved the quality of it.