Do we really want to be rich cory

Poetry

Bill Grifenhagen

11 November 2015

Edwin Arlington Robinson battled with despression symptoms throughout almost all of his existence, especially during his early years as an adolescent. When asked about his childhood, Robinson him self described that as “stark and unhappy” (Poets. org). He even wrote in a letter to a friend of his, Amy Lowell, that “when [he] was six years old, [he] remembered wondering why [he] had been born” (Poets. org). It really is no surprise that this bleakness that encumbered his childhood is clearly mirrored in his most famous poem, “Richard Cory”. With this poem, Brown reveals a thing to the market that everybody needs to realize: people’s outside the house appearance and demeanor are not always directly representative of their overall level of happiness and general fulfillment with life.

Richard Cory, anybody that the poem is about, seems to have it all which is a well-respected, handsome, and wealthy man. Robinson identifies Richard because “always silently arrayed” and writes that he “glittered when he strolled. ” The audience is clearly made aware that Richard can be “somebody” in this town. Rich is someone who the community in general knows, respects, admires, as well as worships. Besides the community venerate Richard, but in reality “wish that [they] were in his place. ” Nobody knew Rich was depressed or dissatisfied with his lifestyle, and they specifically did not anticipate him to become one to devote suicide. Richard was able to dissimulate his authentic feelings of severe major depression by disguising himself as being a commendable personality that everybody aspired to become like. Richard suffered from despression symptoms so serious that he took his own existence, despite his worldly accomplishment.

The stigma connected with mental health issues, or depression specifically, is definitely the biggest barrier to mental healthcare today. When 1 admits or is revealed to have a mental condition, a happening known as “social distancing” occurs, whereby individuals who are depressed or have one other mental condition tend to become isolated simply by society. Research shows that “the majority of persons hold bad attitudes and stereotypes toward people with mental illness” (Friedman). Depression is definitely ranked among the world’s many disabling diseases, and because with this stigma linked to it, most people are embarrassed approach anyone or reach out for help. Cancers, liver disease, heart problems, Alzheimer’s, and countless various other diseases are generally topics that people feel comfortable talking about on Facebook . com or inside the aisle in the grocery store, although depression is known as a disease that is usually seldom spoken about in cultural environments. Up to fifteen percent of people clinically determined to have clinical major depression die simply by suicide (Suicide and Depression). Essentially, this could be translated to mean that specialized medical depression could be the cause of fatality for twelve to fifteen percent of men and women diagnosed with the sickness. This number is comparable to the majority of physical health illnesses, yet depression just isn’t considered around as severe as physical illnesses which may have comparable death rates.

Richard’s have trouble with depression was completely and utterly unfamiliar to the people of his community. In fact , the folks believed the precise opposite about Richard they will believed he had it all plus they desired to reach Richard’s standard of happiness themselves. Richard was able to “put a face on”, or camouflage clothing his crippling depression coming from society and appearance as a effective, happy, revered man. Brown writes, “so on all of us worked, and waited for the light, and went without the meat, and cursed the bread” meaning that the contemporary society desired to be like Richard. Those of the community wished to have the funds, the appears, and the appreciation that people had for Richard. When Richard was down town, Johnson writes that “we persons on the tarmac looked at him”, signifying which the common people had been regarded as being “below”, or less than Richard. They were underneath him, on the pavement, looking up at him as if his life was more important than theirs is ever going to be. The people of this community regarded Richard so very that not only was everybody envious of his materials possessions and aesthetic presence, but they were covetous of his your life as a whole. In the public’s eyes, he had, in many ways, achieved self-actualization.

By telling the group how recognized Richard was, Robinson makes us to slip on over to our earthly possessions and all sorts of the things we wish and think “do these matters really make us completely happy? ” Richard’s decision to commit suicide, despite his social status, also raises the question of how important each of our status in society really is. This poem instructs the audience a critical lesson that is certainly relevant to nearly every reader even the wealthiest, most engaging, highest viewed person keeps having problems. Funds, good looks, and fame don’t always provide happiness. Richard looked like ought to be happy, he previously everything you can ask for. This kind of poem lets us know that must be man looks like he should be happy with his life will not mean he can actually pleased with his your life.

Edwin Arlington Brown. Poets. org. Academy of American Poets, and. d. Net. 11 November. 2015.

Friedman, Robert, Ph. D. The Judgment of Mental Illness Is definitely Making Us Sicker. Psychology Today. N. p., 3 May 2014. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.

Suicide and Despression symptoms. All About Depressive disorder: Overview. In. p., n. d. Internet. 11 November. 2015.

“Richard Cory” The Children from the Night by simply Edwin Arlington Robinson, 1897

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