"Richard Cory" by Edwin Arlington Robinson (poetry reading)

In the realisation that this poem may be set as coursework for students, I have decided to present a sensible and sober analysis.

I've read what analyses I can find by learned and intelligent critics on the web. In general, they are all such shameful and pretentious bumfodder that the writers should be strung up naked by their thumbs while orang-utans are rewarded with bananas for swinging on their testicles. Is that sensible and sober enough?

I don't believe that he's talking about a real person. Richard Cory is a projection, like Miniver Cheevy, one aspect of Edwin Arlington Robinson's own personality.

That doesn't mean that Edwin thought he was admirable, clean-favoured, and a glittering chick-magnet. It means that even if he were then he'd still have a death-wish and need to deal with the occasional impulse to blow his brains out.

Poems are usually about what it's like to be the poet. It's not always the case, but that is the strongest motivation for writing poetry.

To complicate matters a bit more, Edwin also identifies with the envious townspeople who wish they were more elegant and well-off like Richard Cory and didn't have to toil for their daily bread and suffer the deprivations of their lowly existence. It's a parable, if you like.

When you're feeling down in the dumps, it's no real help when people try to get you to snap out of it. It's no use them telling you that you look great, or that everybody loves you and wishes they were you. That doesn't stop you from wanting to bust a cap in your cerebrum. Or, if you're in a Shakespearean mood, to make yourself a quietus with a bare bodkin.

If you know somebody like Richard Cory don't let the poor bastard suffer on his own. You'll be more help if your try to alleviate his spiritual isolation, empathise with his feelings, split a joint with him and hide his pistol.

The commonest motivation for suicide is incompetence. Being admirable isn't the antidote.

Reasons for not leaving this vale of tears:
1) You have important stuff still to do.
2) Somebody loves you and needs you to be here.
3) You need to know what happens next.

This poem was first published in 1897.

The drawing is of a man-about-town in "morning dress", about 1910.

Category:

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• Cory
• Edwin
• Arlington
• Robinson
• poe

[kipptumor]

I don't know, man - was "Richard Cory" decent to his labor force? Was he unreasonable in his demands of them? Was he a hypocrite? Would the world really miss this person? Was there anything redeeming about his character other than being wealthy? I mean, if the "message" is that money does not buy happiness that should be instilled in most of us from age three up I suppose. It is those who believe money equates to happiness that may deserve the self-inflicted bullet for being such cocks.

[SpokenVerse]

The poem doesn't have anything to say about those issues. You final point might be the same point that the poem makes.

In my experience money may not buy happiness but it does permit us to be miserable in comfort. What use is happiness anyway? You can't take it to the bank and get money for it.

[searcherboy]

"The commonest motivation for suicide is incompetence."

Yes. That's the truth. You feel a uselessness that seems too big to overcome, too ingrained to reverse, alter, or redeem. But how do you overcome incompetence, once you have a concrete awareness that has become rooted in your life? The awareness of "important stuff still to do" isn't going to cut it, if you think you're too incompetent to do this important stuff. What do you do when suicide becomes a real, plausible out?

[SpokenVerse]

Razors pain you;

Rivers are damp;

Acids stain you;

And drugs cause cramp.

Guns aren't lawful;

Nooses give;

Gas smells awful;

You might as well live. -- Dorothy Parker

[sma9401]

Richard Cory is my favorite poem of all time.

[ZeppelinFromtheLake]

another thing you can get from this poem is that things are not always what they seem...people thought he was perfect but inside of himself he was a sad man who wanted to get out of the image that everyone saw him as...a short poem that says a lot...thanx again

[gotohell714]

@kipptumor i actually forgot that gay means happy. No wonder the "happy" marriage movement is facing obstacles. That would destroy half the lawyers' careers.

[kipptumor]

@gotohell714 I have met many a wealthy man, and most are just as "happy" as the rest of us. Seems the more things they own tend, after a time, to own them.

[gotohell714]

@kipptumor i figured it was a gay guy with some kind of self hate, the way he was slim and glitterry and all that, but good points you make about wealth deriving from other peoples poverty.

[ShotgunTheMan]

Wow .

Research some time pays Off .

Regards ,

Shotgun

[Jayoung1000]

Great poem and great song!

[shadowylie]

@SpokenVerse great poem and an amazing woman with an acid tongue and acerbic wit.

[ceberusbotcatcher]

Being a star, being a celebrity with all the fame and money and whatnot, is not as great as people believe it is.

It's "We people" vs. Richard Cory, him vs. the World.

People who idolize them, make them something other than human, and at times, that can lead to a loneliness only escapable through death.

[RobertoOneEye]

I absolutely love this poem.

[FluidwithinStrife]

SpokenVerse: "In my experience money may not buy happiness but it does permit us to be miserable in comfort."

Damn that's pessimistic! You're forgetting that money can also help you get the psychotherapeutic and psychiatric help you need. For instance, Major Depression can be successfully treated with Cognitive Therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Anti-Depressants, Electro-Convulsive Therapy and other treatments. There's a lot of scientific evidence to support that.