What Is The Purpose Of Richard Cory

In the poem “Richard Cory,” by Edwin Arlington Robinson, the author has a omniscient knowledge of Richard Cory. Throughout the poem, there is a very positive perspective on this character shown through diction, literary devices and word choice. The literary devices such as imagery, repetition and formal diction to help give an image of this man named Mr. Cory. This poem describes a man whom is charming, admirable, respected and admired by many. Everyone wanted to be him for all his qualities and appearance.

The perspective on Richard Cory is a favorable one, they believe he is charming, respectful and good mannered. The author percieves him as royalty, as seen in the title for “Richard Cory” which means “chosen king”. This just at the beginning show the favorable attitude towards this character not even mentioning the diction and word choices that back it up. Throughout the poem the people in the story admired him and wanted to be him. His actions made people flutter and their hearts pulsate.

Mr.

Robinson used word play extrememly well throughout the poem. He made secenes pop out and so descriptive that you could picture everything in your mind. An example of this imagery is when he said, “he was always human when he talked...still he fluttered pulses...he glittered when he walked.” Here he used sound and action to show this characters exact presence. His word choice was also remarkable for the fact that he used words that are inhabitually used. He uses words such as “fluttered pulses” and “glittered”, this diction is used to directly represent the

character.

Edwin expresses his omniscient views by knowing the thoughts, actions and views of all characters in the poem. The author knew what all other characters thought of of Richard and additionally he knew every aspect of Richard Cory’s life. For example the author reveals “he was always quiet” and “he was always human”. The author would only realize small things like acting human if he knew the character and what he was like. Yet, the author maintains a god like state, as if he was always all knowing and distant from the story. He never once speaks as if he were part of the events rolling out.

In the end Edwin Robinson uses perspective, diction and omniscients to effectively write a poem that tells a story. A story that was told by a god like figure and written with imagery and inhabitually used words. The overall effect of his strategies are a well written poem that unlike others tells you about the life of Richard Cory and how it ended in the view of someone who knew it all too well.