The Deceptive Allure in Richard Cory

The poem “Richard Cory” by Edwin Arlington Robinson indeed presents a sugarcoated bittersweet narrative. On the surface, it paints a picture of a man who is the epitome of success and grace, admired by all. The townspeople see Richard Cory as a figure of wealth and status, someone who possesses all the attributes that they desire: elegance, richness, and respectability1. The poem’s structure, with its straightforward ABAB rhyme scheme and iambic pentameter, adds to the seemingly simple and pleasant veneer2.
However, the poem’s final line delivers a shocking twist: despite his outward appearance of having everything, Richard Cory goes home and takes his own life1. This abrupt conclusion serves as a poignant reminder that appearances can be deceiving and that material wealth and social status do not guarantee happiness1. The poem’s bittersweet nature lies in this contrast between the townspeople’s perception of Cory and the reality of his inner turmoil.
Robinson’s poem is a comme
ntary on the human tendency to envy others based onsuperficial qualities without understanding their true circumstances. It also touches on themes of isolation and the inability of wealth to buy happiness, which were relevant to the economic depressions of the 1890s when the poem was written and remain resonant today1.
In essence, “Richard Cory” is a narrative wrapped in a “sugarcoating” of rhythmic verses and rhyme, which ultimately reveals a bitter truth about the human condition and the fallacy of judging by appearances.