Robinsons Of Edwin Arlington Essay Research Paper

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.