Richard Cory

At the beginning of the third stanza, the speakers declare that Cory was richer than royalty, “And he was rich—yes, richer than a king—” (Line 9). This is meant as hyperbole, but it also demonstrates Cory’s wealth and influence on the town. Being compared to a king sets up the power imbalance we see playing out throughout the poem. A king is not just someone rich. They are also someone who is incredibly powerful and has power over others. A king’s influence is more than just a wealthy man’s, and Cory’s power over the town is evident. A king is also a kind of celebrity, especially the way monarchy is viewed today. This comparison works to emphasize the type of reaction Cory would get from people on the street. Even a simple “good morning” from Cory could make someone’s day, and a sighting of him strolling through town was considered a big event, much like seeing a king would be.

In the poem’s final stanza, the townspeople talk about two particular food items: meat and bread. These items are considered food staples in the history of the human diet. Meat, unspecified from which animal, is a recognizable symbol for food of substance worldwide across many cultures, and bread, while sometimes sweet and delicious, is a food without much substance and little nutritional value.