Diction, Symbolism, And Imagery In Robinson s Richard
Cory
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 on Helpwriting.net ...
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