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Diction, Symbolism, And Imagery In Robinson's Richard Cory

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The Grass is Always Greener on the Other Side:
Diction, Symbolism and Imagery in Robinson’s “Richard Cory” Oftentimes in poetry, something that appears simple is, in fact, very complex upon deeper evaluation. Edwin Arlington Robinson does exactly this in his poem, “Richard Cory,” by creating an accessible poem that can then be picked apart to reveal a deeper meaning. Upon first glance, the poem appears to be an interesting narrative about the idolization of a rich aristocrat from the perspective of a poor commoner with whom he interacts. However, upon closer evaluation, a different meaning can be discovered; the idea that desirable situations often contain negative attributes that people are unaware of or overlook. This is achieved through …show more content…

For example, the phrase “fluttering pulses” could mean the townspeople being nervous in his present or could be seen as a symbol to represent romantic interests (159). Another symbol appears in the line, “He was a gentleman from sole to crown” (158). The word “crown” has two meanings in this usage (158). The most apparent definition is that it is the top of his head; however, symbolically it is a reference to a king. Thus, drawing this parallel emphasizes the status that Richard Cory holds within their community. Using the word “crown” also leads to many inferences on the speaker’s opinion of Cory, without them actually having to be stated (158). The stereotypical image of a king is that of someone who is regal, rich, kind, fair and more, which is all indicated within that one word. A third symbol is the analogies to meat and bread in the last stanza. In this the speaker is making a statement about socioeconomic classes, but in a more eloquent way. Bread is a euphemism for being poor, because it is all that they could afford to eat. The word bread also references the Roman idea of “panem et circenses,” or “bread and circuses.” This phrase indicates the idea that as long as the poor are fed and entertained, they will remain in their impoverished state. The speaker “curses the bread” because that is all that he can afford to eat, but does nothing more drastic, because he is not going hungry and his situation could be much worse (159). Meanwhile, having the ability to eat meat was a sign of status, because it meant you had enough money to buy more expensive food. This comparison of bread and meat highlights the speaker’s longing for the things that he does not have, the meat, without appreciating the fact that at least he can afford to eat bread. It also indicates that he is only thinking about Richard Cory in the shallowest way possible, what he can buy, rather than who

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