Richard Corey Essay, Research Paper

Ken JensenEng 152Professor AzarchAssignment #5April 19, 1999Richard CoryBy Edwin Arlington Robinson Money can t buy happiness and “You can’t judge a book by its cover” are two old adages that echo through time; however, they seem to echo so softly that they are quite often disregarded. For men, in their search for contentment and fulfillment, only see money as the main vehicle. The poor, the common, and the needy usually seem to envy the rich, the powerful and most importantly, the seemingly content. Richard Cory was the envy of all who encountered him. The people thought he had it all. They saw his money, felt his power, knew his intelligence, and never once did they doubt his happiness. They looked upon him as more than a mere man, and they desired to be looked upon in that way, too. They almost held Richard Cory up as royalty. They assumed that living like Richard Cory would bring them their elusive happiness. Neither spoken word nor inference alluded to Richard Cory as a friend. In fact, the poem indicates that everyone keeps their distance. Richard Cory leads an unbearably lonely life. His money can not buy happiness nor can it bring him friends.

How jaded has man’s quest for happiness become? Where does the journey end and the destination begin? What is contentment? Is it all about money? Do we remember what we are searching for? Perhaps where we thought we might find happiness was only a barren road. Perhaps where we thought a barren road lay; happiness was to be found a little way down the road. The poem Richard Cory certainly invokes all kinds of questions about man’s search for happiness. The sixteen short lines in this poem, leaves the reader with nothing but questions. The answers to which can only be found in one’s heart.