C). Things in life and with people are often not as they seem.
Explanation:
The third statement most aptly expresses the central idea(theme) of the given passage that has been taken from Richard Cory. The author aims to convey the idea that 'what things or people seem to us is not necessarily the truth.'
The idea is substantiated through the representation of Richard Cory's life which appears to be great in outlook(full of wealth, riches, and people's recognition and admiration'). He seemed to be 'glittered while he walked' and he was schooled in every grace.' People longed to be like him but <u>the reality was that he was deeply broken, alone, and shattered from inside that eventually led him to commit sui-cide(put a bullet through his head')</u>. Thus, <u>there lies divergence between the outer appearance and inner reality of life</u>.
