Private versus Public Life
The central theme of "Richard Cory" is the tragic disparity between Cory's outward appearance and his internal state. According to the speaker, Cory is a man with an enviable life: he is clean-cut, well-educated, wealthy, noble, and charismatic. His very presence makes the townspeople's pulses race; they all wish they could trade places with him. However, the poem's final twist describes how Cory, without warning or explanation, takes his life one summer evening. That the poem ends here and does not delve into the reason behind Cory's suicide further underscores the ways in which one's public image and private life can be completely at odds. Despite (or perhaps because of) Cory's perfect image, he suffers from severe psychological distress that ultimately leads to him taking his own life. The poem can therefore be read as a warning not to take things only at face value.
The name "Richard Cory" itself addresses the theme of private versus public life. The townspeople only see Cory as rich, hence his first name "Richard." Because of this idol-worshipping behavior, Cory cannot truly connect with anyone. There is nobody to see his true internal state: his core (hence the name Cory).
Origins of a Public Image
Cory's image as a demigod who "[glitters] when he [walks]" is not necessarily cultivated by Cory himself (Line 8). Despite the townspeople's fascination with Cory's mannerisms and wealth, he is described as being quite humble. For example, the speaker notes that Cory is "quietly arrayed" and is "always human" when he talks (Lines 5-6). These details about Cory's appearance suggest that he approaches life with humility, grace, and perhaps even a desire to be part of the common crowd. It is the townspeople who turn Cory into an idol. Cory's suicide can therefore be interpreted as a response to the public image that was thrust upon him. This reading supports the poem's efforts to demystify outward appearance as a replica of one's mental or emotional state.
Wealth Does Not Solve Every Problem
The speaker, who represents the collective views of the townspeople, states that the community wishes to be in Cory's place (Line 12). This is due to the fact that he is "richer than a king" and is "admirably schooled in every grace" (Lines 9-10). It is clear that in comparison to Cory, the townspeople struggle financially. They work continuously, "[waiting] for the light" (Line 13). In other words, they await relief from their suffering and a chance to stand in the perceived light of wealth and status. That they go "without meat, and [curse] the bread" references the Panic of 1893, an economic depression in the United States that affected almost every sector. Clearly, the townspeople suffer.
The character of Richard Cory suffers in a different kind of way. Despite all his riches and the status they afford him, Cory shoots himself in the head "one calm summer night" (Line 15). The poem ends with this image and does not try to discern Cory's reasons. Instead, Robinson considers the event from a different perspective, namely, the way Cory is seen and treated by others. All of the townspeople's interactions with Cory are brief and superficial. They spend the majority of their time just looking at him and envying him. The speaker remarks in a surprised way that Cory is "always human when he [talks]," which suggests the God-like way they consider him (Line 6). The insight the poem provides into Cory's problems, then, is that this type of hero worship can be dehumanizing, because it objectifies a person.
