Richard Cory Poem by Edwin Arlington Robinson

Everyone has something to hide. Something that bothers them and they tuck away so the rest of the world will never find out. In Edwin Arlington Robinson’s ‘Richard Cory’ poem the main character hides the truth of the man he really is deep inside.

Richard Cory paints a smile on his face and the faces of those around him, all the while using the most twisted form of happiness to shadow the depression he is cast under. He may seem desirable and happy go lucky to the ones who aren’t as fortunate, but it comes to show that those who may have everything, really have nothing at all.

“Whenever Richard Cory went down town, We people on the pavement looked at him: He was a gentleman from sole to crown,” this quote from the poem further encourages the reader to understand that the people who Richard see’s every day, always look up to him. By either wanting to be the man he is, or to have what he has. They never suspect that perhaps he isn’t as happy on the inside, because he hides it.

A man, who surrounds himself with his riches and can still be admirable as a decent human being, is the kinds of people this world needs more of. Even though this man might have been breaking and or already shattered on the inside, he still mastered the act of making everyone believe he wasn’t broken at all. Much like those closets to us who have mastered the same act of misdirecting others to see only what they want them to see. In this quote, “But still he fluttered pulses when he said, “Good-morning,” and he glittered when he walked.” those who admired him put him on a pedestal to which they looked up to and aspired to be.

“And Richard Cory, one calm summer night, Went home and put a bullet through his head.” This ending quote to the poem ends suddenly, leaving the reader awestruck. It hits with the painful truth, having known the whole time that there must be some damper coming toward the end, but it still has a lasting impact