Wealth and Happiness Rebecca Blough College

It is an incredibly common proverb that money cannot buy happiness. Most individuals agree that while money may be able to fulfill physical needs, it cannot fulfill psychological needs. Edward Arlington Robinson indicates this precept in his poem “Richard Cory.” The theme of the poem “Richard Cory” written by Edwin Arlington Robinson in 1897 is that wealth and elite status do not engender or correspond with happiness.

In the first quatrain of the poem “Richard Cory,” the narrator introduces Richard Cory and conveys the impression that he is somebody who is perceived as elite and admirable according to the townspeople. The narrator in this poem is suggested to be one of the townspeople who has observed Richard Cory over a period of time. Line 2 of the poem reads, “We people on the pavement looked at him.” This line indicates a subtle dissociation between the townspeople and Richard Cory, as if he is an elite member of society. Richard Cory is also described as somebody that consistently draws attention from those around him and is a “gentleman from sole to crown” (4). This description and overall tone of this first quatrain reveals that Richard Cory is generally a quality man.

The second quatrain of the poem “Richard Cory,”...