Question

Identify and explain two themes in the poem “Richard Cory” by Edwin Arlington Robinson.

Answer 1

Answer:

Two themes in the poem “Richard Cory” are envy and irony. The residents of the town in which Richard Cory lives are envious of him, as shown in these lines:

In fine, we thought that he was everything  

To make us wish that we were in his place.

These townspeople are poor and detest the lives they lead, so they envy Richard Cory, who is wealthy and cultured. They admire everything he does and wish that they were in his place. The irony in the poem is seen in the last two lines when Richard Cory shoots himself:

And Richard Cory, one calm summer night,  

Went home and put a bullet through his head.

What was not apparent to the townspeople was that the man who seemed to have everything was so unhappy that he took his own life.

Explanation: from plato

Answer 2

Loneliness- Richard Cory has everything it seems. He had money and nice things. He was a decent looking fellow. But despite all of this, he did not have friends or family it seemed to share in his accomplishments or delight.

Contrasting perspectives- The people who speak of Richard Cory see him as almost royalty. He is everything that each of them would hope to be. When they see him on the street they all admire and envy him, because he has the luxuries that they do not. However, his life must not have been what they perceived, because Richard Cory ends up committing suicide. Usually when someone takes their own life, it is because they are greatly unhappy with it.