Zach Maly
Mrs. Yoder
5/7/15

Is This Real or an Illusion?

” Richard Cory” and ” The Unknown Citizen” both convey the concept of appearance hiding reality. Robinson depicts the life of a wealthy man admired by all the public who seemed to have it all made before his suicide, while Auden presents the life of a man who was conformed to what the government believed made the modern man. In which what he did for the Greater Community was known and appreciated , but he was not known or appreciated. The appearance of Richard Cory and The Unknown Citizen is challenged by the death when their lives came to an ironic end, their true character is revealed, and their social rank is challenged.
Despite the many differences present in these two poems, both poems present the end of Richard Cory and The Unknown Citizen’s lives that came to an ironic end. Robinson presents us with the life of the wealthy Richard Cory who, “makes all the towns people wish to be in his place.” But, even though it seemed like Richard Cory had it all made, it wasn’t revealed until ” he put a bullet through his head.” The end of Richard Cory’s life may not seem like an ironic end, but what may not be noticed is how the town’s people longed to be in his place. They had the longing to have his wealth, but all he wanted was to belong, causing that bullet to echo all night long. Likewise, The Unknown Citizen is presented by a bureaucrat as ” having everything necessary to the Modern Man,” “held the proper opinions,” and “everything he did served the Greater Community.” Though this Unknown Citizen did everything to help the Greater Community, the bureaucrat never knew his name, and only had information on him… Even after death. Thus, Richard Cory and The Unknown Citizen both had lives that seemed great on the outside, but those townspeople, citizens, and that bureaucrat never imagined that their ” perfect lives” would come to a sudden end.
Richard Cory and The Unknown Citizen had an appearance that made them seem happy until their death when their true character was revealed. In Robinson’s poem, Richard Cory is believed to have the high life by being ” richer than a king,” and ” a gentleman from sole to crown” making it seem that since he was richer than all and a gentleman, he was happy. Though he seemed happy in the eyes of the town’s people, that night that Richard Cory put a bullet through his head was a day that would live in infamy for the town’s people as his real character of Richard Cory was exposed: lonely, needing, excluded and sorrowful. Similarly, in Auden’s poem, The Unknown Citizen is seen by other citizens and characterized by the bureaucrat that ” he was a saint,” “never got fired,” and ” wasn’t a scab.” After The Unknown Citizen’s death expressed towards everyone that he did not have it all, and though his death was not explained, he caused the bureaucrat and others to question “Was he Free?” and “Was he happy?” Thus, death exposed their real character by removing the mask of seemed happiness.
In “Richard Cory” and “The Unknown Citizen,” both characters are seen as being higher in the social ranks with being able to supply themselves to live a happy life. Richard Cory was seen by the people as being the richest man alive ” yes, richer than a kind,” putting him at possibly the highest social rank he could possible have. Though Richard Cory had the highest social rank achievable , his death made all wonder why this was to happen when he seemed to have it all made with him being the richest man, being a gentleman, and being admired by all. Everyone wondered, why would he kill himself? In similarity to Richard Cory, when The Unknown Citizen’s unexplained death occurred the bureaucrat questioned the reason since he was believed to ” have everything that made the Modern Man.” When The Unknown Citizen’s death occurred he was seen to be a little higher in the social ranks, about middle class or higher, making his death seem unusual as to why death had occurred to this man. The Unknown Citizen was believed by researchers to have everything he needed to make his life: “a phonograph, a radio, a car, and a frigidaire .” Thus, both characters social rank is challenged by death as both men cause people to wonder why a man at such high social rank would have death occur so early.
While The Unknown Citizen was only being appreciated for his actions, Richard Cory was being praised and admired by the people of the downtown community. While how their lives are playing out differently, they share the fact that their lives came to an ironic end, their true characters were revealed by their death, and that their social rank was challenged.