Richard Cory And The Unknown Citizen By Edward Arlington Robinson Analysis

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The fault in human perception derives from the fault in ourselves, the way that we see things at surface-level and arrive at conclusions that are often wrong and hurtful to others. As human beings, we haven’t yet learned how to stop projecting and perceive each other for whom we truly are. In “Richard Cory” by Edward Arlington Robinson and the “Unknown Citizen” by W.H Auden, the speaker uses diction and structure to emphasize the theme of the fault in human perception.
The communities’ encomium for Richard Cory paints a picture of rose-colored glasses. Their use of diction describe Richard Cory as the epitome of the guy that “has it all”. “We people on the pavement looked at him: he was a gentleman from sole to crown” (line 2-3). They use …show more content…

The structure can also be seen as an example of the strict organizations that the evaluators of the unknown citizens were looking for and found in him. It’s very factual and emotionless and it addressees the fact that all society looks for is complacency and cooperation with rules in their citizens. “Was he free? Was he happy? The question is absurd: Had anything been wrong, we should certainly have heard,” (The unknown line 28-29). The poem ends with a rhyming couple, comparing the two most important lines in the poem. After all the unconventional and cold processes this man had to go through, the speaker asks the important questions, but is disregarded. The bureaucracy which is a symbol for society sticks to the viewpoint that since he was within the parameters of normality then he must have been alright. The excoriate tone of the speaker towards the Government is also expressed by the poet W.H Auden. At an interview he is asked about government and he responds: “I think we should do very well without politicians. Our leaders should be elected by lot. The people could vote their conscience, and the computers could take care of the rest.” He simply doesn’t want the Government to gain power and treat us like pawns in their game of normality and complacency instead of human beings; which is being depicted in the poem “The Unknown

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