Richard Cory Essay

Lisa Burris

McElveen

English II

January 17, 2012       

The Story of Richard Cory

          E.A. Robinson’s poem “Richard Cory” portrays a man who is envied by others in Tilbury Town.  He is looked at with wide eyes; eyes that belonged to those wishing for qualities like his, yearning for a similar lifestyle. However much like in today’s time, along with fame and fortune comes obstacles: solitude, confinement, and ostracism. Factors that can control their victim and steer them towards a certain fate, an unfortunate fate that Richard Cory fell into. Richard Cory’s intimidation toward others and the tendency that people have to fear the unknown is what brought him to his lonely life and sudden death. 

         Richard Cory’s intimidation toward others is illustrated in many ways. “Whenever Richard Cory went downtown we people looked at him,” plays a key role in making Mr. Cory feel like an outsider. He was never spoken to; just watched. He had no communication with the outside world. The townspeople could never have expected that he desired their company; royalty should not desire the company of ordinary people, it was not normal. Despite Mr. Cory’s attempts at conversation, he remained unanswered: “And he was always human when he talked; but still he fluttered pulses when he said, ‘Good morning,’ and he glittered when he walked.” He was the nicest man that could not get anyone to speak to him; not one person that he could share things with. His intimidation is what caused him to be utterly alone.

         Mr.Cory’s intimidation brings fear to the town; fear of the unknown. “Whenever Richard Cory went down town, we people on the pavement looked at him,” explains the distance that the town keeps from Richard Cory. Though not always a literal distance, they are never there with him in spirit, always watching him from a ways away. This is caused by their fear of the unknown; the fear of the superior, royalty; in this case, Richard Cory. 

          In the town of Tilbury, when everyone only lives to pass the time until death, the people have limits. Everyone in the town is missing something, which is a key factor in their misery. When everyone wants to die, it is only a matter of time before one reaches his breaking point. The criticality of whatever they are lacking determines the time left before one parishes. One can physically yearn for food and riches and be stable, but when he lacks something as important as a companion, it becomes unbearable to the point that death is the only resort. “So on we worked and waited for the light, and went without the meat and cursed the bread, and Richard Cory, one calm summer night, went home and put a bullet in his head.” Being poor, one physically has something to work towards; being royalty, one already has everything he could ever possibly need. 

         The story of Richard Cory goes to show that royalty and money does not lead to happiness. Richard Cory’s life was ended due to his intimidation toward others; not purposeful, but caused by his royalty and riches. If not so intimidating and mysterious, Richard Cory would not have gone home to put a bullet in his head on that warm summer night.