“Richard Cory” By Edwin Robinson

The author experienced series of intricacies in his early years. These scenarios lead him to create literary pieces which show pessimism. Among his heartbreaking experiences were: (1) the death of his brother due to drug overdose; (2) this loss was followed by another sibling to whom his poem “Richard Cory” thought to refer to; (3) after a year in Harvard, his father also departed this life; (4) he was rejected twice by the woman he loved; (5) when he was about to present his self-published first book to his mother, the latter died days before the copies arrived. Those were some of the tear-jerking experiences he undergone.

            The poem is quatrain in form since it has four lines per stanza, and the first and third lines rhyme each other. Each line consists of ten syllables, following the pattern of abab. “Richard Cory” illustrates a person who is affluent, erudite, well-mannered and well-liked by everyone. Notwithstanding by these character-traits he take his own life.

            For the reader to further understand the poem “Richard Cory” one must use the Psychoanalysis theory because it deals with understanding one’s behavior. It observes investigating the function of unconscious psychological drives and desires in molding human behavior or artistic behavior. Through this, we would understand what Robinson wanted to convey to the reader, and that is to ‘not to judge people by his appearance; rather scrutinize what is on the façade’. The scheme that wealth cannot buy happiness is also recommended. The speakers in the poem are the populace in town who appreciates Richard Cory. He was the richest in town, whose fortunes didn’t make him happy, instead, makes him be jealous of towns’ natives. He was very successful in the eyes of towns’ people but despite of all the achievements he had he executes suicide.