Dicuss the narration of the poem "Richard Cory" by Edwin Arlington Robinson.

In
literature, the author provides an avenue for the reader to look at the world that he has
created.  This is the point of view which establishes how the work will be seen and heard.  The
narration in byis a first person point of view narrator.  This is important because the story
in the poem will be told by someone who was there and observed firsthand what
happened.

The narrator in the poem is a citizen of the town in
which Richard Cory lives. This will help the reader to understand that the
speaker personally observes Cory as he walks the streets of Tilbury [a fictitious town created
by Robinson for his poetry] Through the use of the first person pronouns, it becomes obvious
that the speaker knows this regal man who deceives everyone in town. The narrator speaks for the
townspeople.

• We people of the pavement€¦
• In
  fine, we thought that he was everything€¦
• So on we worked

The narrator is a common working man who typically has little material
value.  At times, he cannot afford meat to feed his family.  The speaker tells the story as a
flashback, showing how this grand man who seemed to have everything felt so alienated that he
killed himself.

Deferential and enviousthe people of the pavement are
deceived by the persona of Cory.  To the speaker, he is everything that the citizenry would like
to be. Richard Cory, according to the narrator, would walk to the heart of the town.  He was
impeccably dressed and was courtly in his manners. To the narrator, Richard Cory was the epitome
of a gentleman.  

Richard Cory was extremely rich.  Apparently Cory did not
flaunt his wealth because he was always under dressed for his status.  He was highly
educated. An unusual aspect about this man was that he spoke to the people in a fashion that
made the narrator feel that Cory was human when he talked. The use of
human implies that the speaker believes that Cory is better than the common
folks,but he strives to be a part of the conversation as an equal.

In
comparison, the we in the poem are lacking in many ways.  Inferentially, they are poor, under
educated, and hardworking. They wish that they were Richard Cory. Their regard for him isolates
him and projects snobbery on the part of these common people.

Ironically, the
speaker describes this elegant man, yet he saves the revelation until the end.  Richard Cory was
so unhappy and miserable that he killed himself. 

And
Richard Cory, one calm summer night

Went home and put a bullet through his
head.

Thisis obvious. On the surface, the man is greatly
admired. Yet, his inner turmoil takes the joy from his life, and he kills himself.

The townspeople may hold some culpability in Corys death.  In the poem, no one engages
Cory.  He walks among them but the citizens are so awed by this man that they did not make him a
comrade.  Richard Cory was alone.  He would go downtown in the morning, but he killed himself at
night when he was by himself.