Comparative essay – The Unknown Citizen/ Richard Cory

 “Richard Cory” and “The Unknown Citizen” are both powerful representations of superficial societies. Robinson’s poem depicts the slow growing depression to suicide of a wealthy, well-respected man as his peers envy him excessively to the point of not associating with Cory, while Auden’s poem depicts the obituary-like description of a man from a disconnected government bureaucrat with no sympathy. Both authors prove that physical appearance can hide the underlying depression and emptiness of lives as revealed through social rank, characterization, and ironic outcome.
 Both poems portray the victim as a higher class man who has his life perfectly put together which is used as a facade for the hidden loneliness and disconnection from society. For example, Richard Cory is described as “rich – yes richer than a king,” and is “everything to make us wish that we were in his place.” The townsman persona provides a perfect image of Cory, glorified as his simple greeting “fluttered pulses,” that is envied by peers to mask the underlying depression and loneliness as he “put a bullet through his head.” Similarly, the bureaucrat depicts the citizen as a “saint” who “satisfied him employers” and “wasn’t odd in his views” to create the ideal, average, and well-liked silhouette of a man meant to give himself over to obedience of the state, but is proven a glorification as the man dies unfulfilled as a slave. Just like Richard Cory, only his outward physical appearance is of concern to the onlookers as his true emotions of alienation are assumed as “had anything been wrong, we should certainly have heard.” Thus, both poets prove that the outward appearance of the character disguises their inner feelings of loneliness and emptiness.
 Both poems as well characterize both victims positively to cover the inner depressions. For instance, Richard Cory is represented as “a gentleman from sole to crown, clean-favored and imperially slim” giving him the impression of perfection. This description contrasts the true loneliness of Cory as he says no more than a “good morning” to the people on the pavement which is glorified to “flutter pulses,” disconnecting Cory from the town and making him a specimen of idealization. Likewise, the citizen is characterized with facts such as “he was fully insured” and “had everything necessary to the Modern Man” creating the average description of the normal male. The portrayal of the citizen, most likely written by a disconnected government bureaucrat, shows the dedication that the forgotten citizen clearly showed toward his government, which only degraded his identity to numbers and letters, “JS/07/M/378.” Thus, both poems convey that through the facades on their outer appearances and behaviors, both the citizen and Cory experience loneliness and depression.
 As well as the characterization and social rank, the ironic outcome of both poems proves the characters’ self-loathing and regret of an unfulfilled life. For example, the townspeople who envy Richard Cory begin to “[work] and waited for the light, and went without the meat and cursed the bread” while Richard Cory “went home and put a bullet through his head.” The irony in this situation is proven by Cory’s loneliness and neglect causing him to shoot himself while the less fortunate townspeople work themselves to near death to try and climb the “success ladder” and reach for Richard Cory’s status. Similarly, the citizen is questioned of his lack of happiness as “the question is absurd.” The bureaucrat persona immediately dismisses the doubt of his happiness with only the proof that he “satisfied his employers” and “never interfered with [his children’s] education.” Both the citizen and Cory are assumed happy for their status, whether being a wealthy, aristocratic man or just having a stable life. Thus, both Cory and the citizen are proven to mask their inner depressions and self-loathing natures by the ironic outcomes.
 Though the poems share topics and aspects in management of depression in their characterization, social rank, and ironic outcome, they are distinct and individual. While “Richard Cory” is spoken with envy by a fellow townsperson of Cory, “The Unknown Citizen” is spoken like an obituary from a disconnected government bureaucrat. Robinson’s poem focuses more on the envy of Cory’s life with emotional attachment, while Auden’s poem is more robotic and detached. Although neither of the poems directly addresses the inner emotions of Cory or the citizen, both heavily imply the depression and loneliness of their lives. For this reason, despite their differences, both “Richard Cory” and “The Unknown Citizen” are parallel poems with strong portrayals of human emotion.

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