How Does Arlington Robinson Use Situational Irony In Richard Cory

Throughout life many people may hear the saying money can't buy happiness over and over again but very few take that into consideration. In the poem “Richard Cory,” the poet Edwin Arlington Robinson reminds his readers of this overused phrase by implying it at the end of the poem. The poem is about a man who lives in a neighborhood that envies his wealth and perfect lifestyle. In the end the protagonist commits suicide leaving the town in shock and awe. The poet uses situational irony and symbolism to reach out to its readers in a different perspective to get the message across.
Life tends to throw little unexpected surprises that contradict what many people originally predict. The poet uses situational irony to show what appears to be true and what actually exists in the poem Richard Cory. The townspeople assume Richard Cory has the perfect lifestyle, “richer than a king,” and nothing to worry about while they “went without meat, and cursed the bread.” Little did the townspeople know that Richard Cory was not what they assumed. “On a calm summer night, / [Richard Cory] went home and put a bullet through his head.”
The poet did not mention the
People are surrounded by situational irony on a daily basis; a person may look as if they are having the best day in their life when actually it is the worst. This is similar to how celebrities can look physically stable on television with no worries but in reality they are emotionally unstable, such as Brittany Spears who shaved her head due to severe depression. Even the president may look in great condition when giving a speech but he may actually be suffering from a life threatening disease. The poet wants to remind the reader that what many people assume is the perfect life is not as perfect as they