In Edwin Arlington Robinson’s poems, “Richard Cory” and “Miniver Cheevy”
the main characters are portrayed as outcasts. Both are shunned from society
neither having any real friends. Though these characters have some similarities,
the way in which Robinson portrays them is very different. Richard Cory is
admired by his peers, where as, Miniver Cheevy is opposite; people look down on
him. One man appearing to have everything takes his own life, while the other
appearing to have nothing accepts his misery. For Richard Cory, the saying money
can’t buy happiness, could not be more appropriate. He is, according to the
people of the town, the man with everything. Everyone wished they could be more
like him, “he had everything to make us wish that we were in his place”. In
contrast Miniver Cheevy, had nothing to be admired for, he had done nothing with
his life and yet he longed to have the adoration that Richard Cory had, the
respect and almost kingly qualities, “he was a gentleman from sole to
crown”. Miniver Cheevy wanted to be the hero that Cory was to the people on
the street. “Miniver mourned the ripe renown that made so many a name so
fragrant.” ”Richard Cory” is told from an outsider’s point of view, so
that the reader does not gain any more insight into Cory’s mind then the
people on the pavement. This also adds to the surprise when Cory, seemingly
happy, puts a bullet in his head. Richard Cory had no friends the people of the
town never really saw him as a person, in fact they never saw him at all, the
“people on the pavement looked at him”, never spoke to him, he was only
something to admire. He was a god in their eyes, almost holier than thou, “and
he was rich-yes, richer than a king” yet He rarely spoke but when he did “he
was always human when he talked” suggesting he was not human the rest of the
time. “He glittered when he walked” as if he shined, he was different and
the people on the pavement “looked at him” to an outsider he would appear to
be an untouchable, living in a society that could not or did not know how to
accept him. He tried to speak to the people on the pavement however “he
fluttered pulses when he said ‘Good Morning”. The people on the pavement put
Richard Cory on a pedestal and therefore could not speak to him. They envied him
and hated him they wanted his life so easy, so simple, and so happy. They
continued to work and hope that one day they too could be as rich and as happy
as Richard Cory, hating him even more everyday they “went without meat”.
Then “Richard Cory, one calm summer night, went home and put a bullet through
his head”. One calm summer night implies there was nothing special or unusual
about that particular night, it was the same as any other and yet the town’s
god/outcast, commits suicide, for apparently no reason. Robinson gives no
insight into Cory’s mind, we can only assume he was so miserable that he could
not bear to go another day, with the people on the pavement looking at him and
hating him more and more. The tone of “Richard Cory” is upbeat until the
unexpected end; in contrast “Miniver Cheevy” has a negative tone from the
first line, “Miniver Cheevy, child of scorn”. Scorn implies hatred, disdain
contempt and misery. “He assailed the seasons” Since season is plural it is
not just one season or point in time, this is a constant misery an ongoing
Battle within himself. “He wept that he was ever born,” He was born too late
he “loved the days of old” and wishes he could have lived in that time, he
would have done anything to be a bold warrior and gain the respect and love of
his people. “He would have sinned incessantly could he have been one.” He
envied those times it was so easy to gain respect, romance and to be the talk of
the town, Miniver desperately wanted all of this and yet he had none. “Miniver
cursed the commonplace” he hated his surroundings they were so boring to him,
there were no exciting battles to watch or be a part of. To Miniver even the
dress was boring, though the common suit does hold stature, “Miniver eyed it
with loathing” hating it solely because it did not have the same “medieval
grace of iron clothing”. He hated the money he desired knowing it was only
important in his present life it would not have been important if he was living
in the days of old yet he was even more miserable without it. He could not
accept his life and so his only escape was to drink and so he did. In both of
these poems Robinson portrays the outcast within society. One seemingly well off
and content with his life, the other outwardly miserable. Because the people on
the pavement hold Richard Cory in such high esteem he becomes an outcast within
their society. Miniver Cheevy has done nothing society has told him to therefore
he is society’s outcast. Neither of theses characters are accepted in their
own life and neither can face another day. They both have a need to escape the
present, they choose to do this in different ways, Richard Cory takes his life,
and Miniver Cheevy drinks and pretends he is a knight in medieval times.
Robinson effectively takes to characters and puts them into completely different
settings and ends the poems with the same concept of misery.