In this rather short poem, the narrator tells us about a rich man who comes to their small town and causes everyone to envy him, because he is young, well dressed, educated, popular, and rich the narrator says that he seemed to have everything. The narrator and the other townspeople were poor, and they all envied Richard Corey until Corey committed suicide. The author seems to be trying to convince us that we should be grateful for our lot, and not envy others. However, I think maybe he is only pointing out that we simply can never really know unless we walk inside someone else’s skin. There is no intrinsic value in poverty, except that it helps us to understand the poor. I do not believe that this means we need to remain poor.
The author, Edwin Arlington Robinson, came from a financially secure family with social problems, such as his brother’s alcoholism, and he made his way for the most part, with some help from family and friends. His volumes of poetry won the Pulitzer Prize three times. The love of his life married his brother and refused him twice after being widowed. In looking at others of his poems, it seems that many are narrative and moralistic. We also wonder why the love of his life turned him down at least twice. So, perhaps, the poet did mean to tell us we should accept our lot. (Poets.org biography, Edwin Arlington Robinson, 2008) However, I still disagree with that idea, based upon the fact that poverty has no particular value, either culturally or mystically. Poverty as a choice, such as that made by Mother Theresa, may have value, but not of itself, but rather of the freeing influence it has on the person who owns nothing.
Lloyd Morris, in his analysis of Richard Cory, shows us exactly that the effect of this poem is merely to make us understand that which we do not see. “The poet, with a more profound grasp of life than either, shows us only what life itself would show us; we know Richard Cory only through the effect of his personality upon those who were familiar with him, and we take both the character and the motive for granted as equally inevitable.” Morris looks at the poem as a distillation of life and points out that we only see from the outside. He compares this form to what the story might have been in drama or fiction and finds more value in this sonnet because it leaves the confusing “why” out of the picture, so that we see the important point, that we can never know what goes on inside another person simply by his or her appearance.
Another supporting statement is provided by the Modern American Poetry review. “The poem serves as an indictment of those who study at a distance, of those who fail to get a feel of their subject, and of those who let petty personal emotions deprive themselves of human companionship. …Robinson points to our need not to judge by appearances either when we examine his poetry.” (Modern American Poetry 2008)
So from this evidence and quite a lot more, I can seriously say that the intent of the poet is popularly believed to be, after all, that we should not judge by appearances. However, as to the second point concerning the value of poverty, I have this to show. “Beyond the value of poverty as a context for the development of humility and piety, I believe that Ignatius saw an added value.” (Fitzgerald 83) That added value was the ability to understand the poor. So Fitzgerald says that Saint Ignatius believed poverty developed humility and piety. Many others in religious orders believe this also. Jesus Christ, Gandhi, and many other revered examples were poor, and they were poor by choice. Perhaps that is what makes the difference. It is not poverty that has value, but the choice to become poor may, depending upon motivation and success at attaining the goal.
With this I can agree, providing that one’s poverty produces some value for someone. For example, Mother Theresa did wonderful things by choosing to be poor. By her example, many were led to contribute to her enterprise who might not have if she had lived separately and retained property. She gave everything to the poor as a good example of total co, fitment to the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Would Bill Gates do as well in her place? I doubt it. He gives away a great deal of money because he is good at making it. In this case, his ability to make money has value, to himself, his family and friends, to his employees, suppliers, partners, charities, and countless others. He would likely fail miserably as a poor person. It is not poverty that has value, but the choices one makes in life that have value. If poverty is a choice taken to achieve a goal and it succeeds, then that choice has value. Of itself, poverty or even wealth has little social value, and only as much actual value as the sales price of the possessions of the person, rich or poor.
References
Fitzgerald, Paul. “Doing Theology in the City.” Cross Currents Spring 2001: 83.
Modern American Poetry, 2008, From “A Re-Examination of ‘Richard Cory.’” Colby Library Quarterly 9 (1972). Web.
Morris, Lloyd, The Poetry of Edwin Arlington Robinson: An Essay in Appreciation. First published in 1923. Reissued in 1969 by Kennikat Press (Port Washington, N.Y.). Web.
Poets.org biography, Edwin Arlington Robinson, 2008. Web.