Richard Cory- Miniver Cheevy
Robinson’s portrayal of the Outcast in Society in “Richard Cory” and “Miniver
Cheevy” 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.
Words: 962
