Richard Cory Essay

dwin Arlington Robinson, writer of the poem “Richard Cory”, uses this narrative poem to enforce the the moral that just because someone has everything you have always wanted, does not mean that they are happy. The dated poem, tells the story of a very wealthy man who was admired by everyone who sets their eyes on him. Throughout the entire poem, the author upholds Richard Cory onto a positive pedestal. The author shows his perspective of Richard Cory through the surplus of literary devices such as assonance, formal diction and symbolism. Assonance, or the repetition of vowel sound is used throughout the poem in order to emphasis Cory's’ popularity. For example, Arlington uses the words “ down, town, and crown” all within the first stanza

In line three, the speaker of the poem states that “Richard Cory is a gentleman from sole to crown.” In modern day, that phrase means from head to toe; however, by using a more formal version of the adage, it grants Richard Cory with a sense of royalty. For the most part, royalty is always looked upon as something that is valuable and respected. By referring to a part of the character as royalty, it provides a positive image of the character. Cory is also described as “imperially” or slim. The author uses the word imperially to add an elegance to Cory’s being. Suggesting that he is elegant adds on to his riches and his stupefying features. Whether Edwin Arlington Robinson uses diction to describe Richard Cory’s wealth, build, or style, he consistently employs words that directly reference royalty and respect. There are not many symbols within the poem; however, Richard Cory himself is an amazing symbol himself. Richard Cory symbolizes fame and fortune. In line nine, the speaker states “and he was rich-yes richer than a king.” This line provides a comparison between Richard Cory and royalty, stating that he was well-off wealthy which made him likable to most. The speaker also makes it apparent that readers knew that the protagonist was “schooled in grace.” By making it known that Cory contains perfect manners, boosts up the reverence the author and just about everyone else has for