Perceptions Of Belonging In The Poem Richard Cory By Edwin Arlington Robinson

Perceptions of belonging vary according to individual experiences. Edwin Arlington Robinson’s poem ‘Richard Cory’ (1897) explores aspects of belonging based on an individual’s background. Class division can be caused by the predetermined opinion of an individual’s personality based on their socio-economic status. The exterior appearance of an individual may not accurately reflect their internal emotions.

The preordained assumption of an individual’s character based on their socio-economic status results in class division. Within the poem, Richard Cory is seen as an outsider, of higher social standing and greater wealth than anyone else in town. “…he glittered when he walked.” The metaphor within the statement highlights Richard Cory’s wealth; his clothes are very expensive. Another example of his wealth is presented within the opening lines, “Whenever Richard Cory went down town, We people on the pavement looked at him:” This descriptive language implies that Richard Cory drives a car, while the average people walking along the pavement look at him. This may seem rather commonplace in todays society, however, in 1893 the first running, gasoline-powered American car was sold. The poem was only written 4 years after that, so cars were still very rare, and was an obvious display of the owner’s wealth. Furthermore, the use of inclusive language, “We people”, is used to indicate the division between Richard Cory, the outsider, and the ‘normal’ people on the pavement. These depictions of the differences between social class, and the

Establishing an opinion of an individual’s character on their socio-economic status causes class division. A person’s exterior appearance may not accurately reflect their internal emotions. These lessons are necessary knowledge used to effectively build and maintain