The poem starts with the title, as Richard Cory, which from the offset gives ultimate importance to the man the poem is devoted to. The overall theme of the poem is that appearances can be deceptive and that ultimately you can never judge a book by it's cover. Richard Cory at face value appears to have it all, looks, money, fame, charisma etc, and yet underneath it all he must have been burdened with troubles and desperately unhappy and lonely as he sat alone in his ivory tower as he committed suicide, "Went home and put a bullet through his head." (16). On the other hand the town folk envy him this perceived perfect man in the same way a child envies the perfect sibling that parents take glee in comparing you too, which incites jealousy, anger and resentment, through no fault perhaps of the sibling who may be unaware.
The words "gentleman from sole to crown " (3) signify is impeccable dress sense but reinforces the social divide as gentleman in olden days were the gentry as opposed to the under privileged paupers. He is described as perfect from head to toe without a hair out of place. The words "crown," (3) and "imperially slim" (4) show that he has regality and is thought of no less in stature than a "king " (9). The social status divide is further shown by the fact that he must live in the affluent uptown and whenever he graces his presence to go "downtown" (1) the people stare and admire him with awe and adulation. The imagery is the normal people are on the streets on the "pavement" while he must be in his carriage as if on a royal or presidential parade on the road. The streets are cleared as the commoners wave at him.
In stanza 2, repeating "he was always" almost gives the tone of jealously taunting him in a very gossipy female manner. The reader expects him to be above the ordinary, even celestial in stature and is stating that Richard would be noble enough to speak in a normal way to the people as if coming down to their level from his lofty tower. His power and hold over people extended to making ladies fall for his charms, "he fluttered pulses" (7). The "glittered" and "morning" (8) gives the appearance of a golden halo surrounding him in the sunshine of the new day. His wealth is also signified by the golden glitter, his fine clothes and "yes, richer than a king" (9). It appears the poet is responding to a question here. He is described as highly educated and in stanza 2 the poet directly admits to wishing to be him or like him "make us wish that we were in his place. "we thought that he was everything" shows past tense and foreshadows that they no longer admire him or that he no longer exists except in their memories which have left an everlasting impression. The qualities described come in quick excited succession leaving no time for thought or analysis, the first impression has been created.
The last stanza shifts to the self loathing of the people who are resentful that have toil and strife and are still waiting to achieve what Richard Cory had. There are heavenly religious connotations with "waiting for the light" (13) this had biblical symbolism as if they are waiting for deliverance to the promised land. The class divide is again shown as rich people can only eat "meat"(14) and traditionally from historical times the poor had to do with basic servings of "bread" which they despise as a symbol of their poverty,"cursed the bread" (14) .light though appears both in Cory 's description and theirs underlying that light defines us all and is universal and omnipresent like god. In the last two lines the story moves forward with the ultimately death of Cory that shatters their illusion with the same loud noise as the "bullet through his head" (16). It as if the entire town has been shot in the head and with that have finally woken up and come to their senses. This loud violent sound and action contrasts sharply with the preceding "one calm Summer night" which makes it even more shocking. The iambic rhythm of the poem and short choppy rhymed verses give the poem a almost unemotional tone which ends abruptly with his death. No further evidence is given of shock or remorse making the people of the town seem selfish, unapologetic and cold hearted.
First impressions it seems do not always last.
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