Logan Goodwin
Pre-Ap English 1
5/7/15
Richard Cory & Unknown Citizen
The poems “Richard Cory” and “The Unknown Citizen” both explore society’s view of a perfect man up to their ironic ends. Robenson represents a man named Richard Cory as his protagonist by creating a royal complex around him until his suicide, while Auden presents his long poem through an authoritarian society’s view of conformity. Both poems flow and clash through their use of social status, bystanders perspective, and the character’s ironic ends.
Both poems conflict in the social rank of there main protagonist. For example, Robenson “shows off” his main character by characterizing him as a ” gentleman from sole to crown” and ” schooled in every grace”. Robinson’s choice of making Richard Cory an idolized character who was viewed as having anything-and-everything made his death all the more tragic to those whose pulses “fluttered” by his elegant greetings. . Whereas, Auden presents the unknown citizen as a mere “factory worker” and “married [with] 5 children”. By doing this, Auden’s protagonist’s death doesn’t affect those higher or lower than him but those around him. Whilst Richard Cory’s death is considered a tragedy among his small community the unknown citizen will only be remembered as the factory working saint with the number JS/07/M/378.
Both poems, along with flow, also clash in their use of the protagonists friends and bystanders perspective. For example, Robinson presents the bystander’s perspective through the idolization of Richard Cory’s “pulse fluttering” greetings and “glittering while he walked”. The bystanders envy and idolized view was also returned through Richard Cory’s want of a simpler, better life. Unlike Robinson, Auden presents his character’s aura through the mates he “had a drink with” and his wife and 5 kids. The unknown citizen though popular among friends and family was only seen as a tool for his State’s purpose. While Richard Cory was idolized for power and wealth the unknown citizen was seen as “one of the guys”.
Both poems also conflict in their ironic ends for both characters. For example, in Richard Cory’s case he committed suicide by “putting a bullet through his head”. Though he was scene as wealthy and happy all that Richard Cory ever wanted was to be free of the constraints of power and wealth and live a simple life. Unlike Robinson, Auden’s character lived the simple life until his untimely end. He was “never fired, was popular among his mates and he did not interfere with his children’s education” While Richard Cory was bothered on the inside the unknown citizen was not bothered enough, becoming a tool for the State’s purposes.
Therefore, both poems compare and contrast through their character’s high and medium social class, idolized and manipulated by others, and their ironic outcomes. Both authors depict a character’s internal desire for a simple, easy life. And another’s simple yet manipulated stance in society.