Richard Corey Poem Analysis free essay sample

Richard did not seem to have the same feeling, because at the end of the poem he shoots and kills himself. This poem sends the message that the outside appearance of a person might not always reflect what is on the inside. The people of the town envied Richard and thought his life was more than perfect. They held him to a higher set of standards as if he was more than just a human being. This was made clear throughout the whole poem especially in the third stanza, quoted, â€Å"in fine, we thought the he was everything to make us wish that we were in his place† (11, 12). It seems that the envy of the people of the town made Richard more of an outcast of the town rather than a part of it. At the beginning of the poem when it talks about how the people stop and stare when Richard Cory went in town definitely creates the first part of imagery in the poem. We will write a custom essay sample on Richard Corey Poem Analysis or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The people stop and watch him as if he is something they have not seen before, almost as if he is a god. They seemed to be shocked that when Richard spoke he was in fact human. He seemed to make people nervous just Czinke 2 being in their presence. This was portrayed when the poem states how Richard Cory fluttered pulses when he would say good-morning. This shows just how awkward the town’s people must have made him felt if his pulse is fluttering just to say a simple good-morning. Simply Richard did not find his life anything to be envious of; to him it was nowhere near perfect. The town’s people seem to put Richard above everyone else because of his lifestyle and having so much money. In the third stanza it is said, â€Å"and he was rich, yes richer than a king† (9). This part of the poem shows how there is an over exaggeration of how rich he really was, which is an example of a hyperbole. In the first stanza it says, â€Å"He was a gentleman from sole to crown† (3). This line in the poem is an example of a connotation. There is a higher meaning to this quote, not only does Richard Cory live like a king but maybe his soul and inner being is viewed like a king as well. The people seem to believe living as a king like the see Richard Cory does that he must have true happiness. Even though the people seem to struggle each day they cannot imagine that Richard can possibly have anything to struggle about in his life. The poem shows the peoples struggle in the very last stanza where it says, â€Å"so on we worked, and waited for the light, and went without the meat, and cursed the bread† (13, 14). Money might be able to buy food but for Richard money does not buy his own happiness. Sadly Richard is far from happy and on one summer night Richard puts a bullet through his head. The outer appearance of Richard Cory is in no way a reflection of his inner struggles. This whole poem is about Richard Cory through the eyes of the people of the town. Clearly what they saw and what they viewed Richards Cory’s life as seemed to be the total opposite of how Czinke 3 Richard actually felt. They envied Richard so much and set him to such a high standard that they ended up making him an outcast in the town. It does not make sense how a person could be happy when they were so isolated from everyone else. The people see that Richards Cory’s life is perfect. Richard may have seemed like a king and to have everything, however that is not the case. At the end of the poem it is clear Richard is not happy. While the true reason seems to be a mystery exactly why he shot himself Richard does end up killing himself, showing he is not as he appeared to be. Robinson, Edwin. â€Å"Richard Cory. † Literature: Reading, Reacting, Writing, Karen Mauk, Wadsworth, 2010. 1130-1131. â€Å"Print. †