Comparing Edwin Arlington Robinson And Richard Cory By Paul Simon

In life it is easy to assume that because someone has money, and fame they have it all. "Richard Cory" by Edwin Arlington Robinson, and "Richard Cory" by Paul Simon prove how wrong that theory is. Richard Cory is described as a man who had everything "Power, grace, and style" ( Robinson, 674) Richard Cory is the man that everyone liked, and everyone wanted to be. On the surface everything looked and seemed great who wouldn’t want to be well liked, and rich? Well inside Richard Cory was hurting he was lonely and unfulfilled. However he could not mention this to anyone because everyone looks up to him, he is supposed to be "perfect" all the time, and telling someone he was not happy would be out of character. Everyone was shocked to find out the man who had it all put a bullet through his head. These poems illustrate that wealth, and fame does not always make a person happy. We don't always know what is going on in other peoples minds, and we need to be aware that …show more content…
in "Richard Cory" by Paul Simon the point of view is told by someone who works for him. "The speaker here is not just one of the many people in the town who sees Richard Cory out and about, It is a man who actually works for Richard Cory. "(wait) In this poem we are given a perspective from someone who actually works for Richard Cory, Instead of admiration, for Richard Cory we get a sense of anger. "The almost parasitic relationship present helps to accentuate the anger felt by the speaker, for while Cory enjoys his orgies on his yacht the speaker works in a factory" (Kannan) It is almost as if The speaker envy's him, rather then admires him. The speaker in this poem believes Richard Cory to always be surrounded by wealthy people as he reads about the rumors of Cory's Party's. Where as the townspeople in Robinson's "Richard Cory" described Richard Cory as an "imperially slim man who is always alone." (Robinson