Richard Cory

Richard Cory

The poem “Richard Cory” is a strong poem that was written by two different authors, Edwin Robinson and Paul Simon. Richard Cory is a picture of a man who has everything. This description is not true, of course, because in the end Richard “put a bullet through his head”. In both of the poems, the people of the town could only wish, they could be Richard Cory. While cursing the lives they are living. In order to understand the poem accurately, each image and comparison or contrast will be closely analyzed.

The first contrast we come to see is the power Richard Cory has, yet how he has lost it all in one moment. Everyone wants to be Richard Cory, and come away from their poverty and sadness. “He had everything a man could want: power, grace, and style.” Richard Cory can have anything he wants, so why would he take his own life? Richard Cory in his suicide displays a hint of powerlessness. Going from having it all and having nothing