Richard Cory

by Edwin Arlington Robinson

It was first published in 1897, as part of The Children of the Night, having been completed in July of that year; and it remains one of Robinson's most popular and anthologized poems.
The poem describes a person who is wealthy, well-educated, mannerly, and admired by the people in his town. Despite all this, he takes his own life.

Genres: Poetry, Classics, School

Unknown Binding

First published January 30, 2012

About the author

Works of American poet Edwin Arlington Arlington include long narratives and character studies of New Englanders, including "Miniver Cheevy" (1907).

Edwin Arlington Robinson won three Pulitzer Prizes for his work. His family moved to Gardiner, Maine, in 1870. He described his childhood as "stark and unhappy."

Early difficulties of Robinson led to a dark pessimism, and his stories dealt with "an American dream gone awry."

In 1896, he self-published his first book, "The Torrent and the Night Before", paying 100 dollars for 500 copies. His second volume, "The Children of the Night", had a somewhat wider circulation.

Edwin Arlington Robinson won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1922 for his first "Collected Poems," in 1925 for "The Man Who Died Twice," and in 1928 for "Tristram."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Ar...

Reviews

[Cassie DeFrank · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great work. You never really know anyone, do you? Money does not equal happiness. Nor does beauty or status. This is a short poem with great meaning.

[John Yelverton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very poignant poem about people always thinking that if they had more money that they would be happy, and uses the counter contrast people who have money who still are not happy.

[Han Le · Rating 5 out of 5]

This masterpiece reminds the readers that before they make any assumptions about a person, they never know under a glamorous appearance may be hiding a troubled and hopeless life. People tend to spend time admiring rich and successful people without knowing what is in the person’s heart and their innermost thoughts.

[Gracelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

"and he was always human when he talked"

"and he glittered when he walked"

but

"Richard Cory, one calm summer night, went home and put a bullet through his head."

beauty, riches, they don't fulfill you like you'd think. the masks we put on our faces can represent false happiness.

[Taylor Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/ 5 stars
Definitely depressing but provides an interesting spin on how perception can create a great sense of isolation on the person who is being admired.

[Morgan Moeller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this poem so much. It is so relevant to our society now a days.

[ferguson (winston’s version) · Rating 5 out of 5]

depressing :)

[Sadia · Rating 3 out of 5]

That ending was a shock🫣

[Izzys_Internet_Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5

THIS FREAKING POEM OMG I have no words

[klaudia katarzyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great one, clear meaning and easy to understand.

[Zehra Akyel · Rating 4 out of 5]

first poem of the yearrrrr

[Rachel Baack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summary: A short poem with a shocking ending that comments on class division and the pervasiveness of unhappiness

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

In “Richard Cory”, Edwin Arlington Robinson suggests that no matter how alluring a lifestyle may seem, you never really know what an individual is going through. To the people who knew of him, he was this untouchable idol, someone to aspire too, “we thought he was everything To make us wish that we were in his place.” (Robinson 11-12) He was everything from rich to graceful. He was so perfect and glamorous that “he glittered when he walked.” (Robinson 8) Everyone was so deceived by how perfect this man was that it was a shock when he “put a bullet in his head.” (Robinson 16) Through this model of a man, the author tells his audience that you never really know a person or what they could be struggling with internally. I believe the fact that he uses, “one calm summer night” (Robinson 15) to portray the environment on which he committed suicide, continues to give us the mindset of the general public who thought they knew him. In saying everything was calm, makes it seem that the public truly still don’t believe Richard Cory could have been struggling with something because the night seemed to be perfect as well.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic and very well written
poem. I think this poem has
a real message--which I agree
wit.