“Richard Cory” and “The Unknown Citizen” are both conveying that a person cannot be judged by his outward appearance. In “Richard Cory”, you would expect a well- rounded man who is generally happy and has his life laid out on a silver platter, while the “Unknown Citizen” had worked for his life, and received everything perfectly, just as he had worked for. These two poems clean up the idea of “Judging a Book By It’s Cover” and are expressed through irony, symbolism and social rank.
“Richard Cory” is more directed at a man who is specifically admired by the general public. Robinson’s opening stanza, “he was a gentleman from sole to crown. Clean favored, and imperially slim.” (Lines 3-4) suggests Cory was a well-rounded individual who’s life was perfectly puzzle pieced out. By contrast, “The Unknown Citizen” is not individually singled out, but is left as a perfectly unhappy man, “for in everything he did, he served the Greater Community.” (Line 4) Though these two men are admired by society, the feelings are not presented, to give off the effect their lives are flawless. Both Robinson and Auden pro I irony through the men’s appearance by saying they were “richer than a king” and “fully insured,” when in reality, loneliness and misery consumes the men as they walk through their daily life under the titles, “Richard Cory” and “JS/07/M/378.”
Despite the differences of the poems, both poets are symbolic and present the loneliness of each man in the same way. Robinson presents Cory as a “king” who is “admirably schooled in every grace.” For example, Cory was “everything (Line 10) and people believed his presence was a supply of “meat” and he had ability to “curse the bread.” Cory was seen as a man who could not only supply himself, but give off the positive, radiant vibes to others. His appearance was glamorous “sole to crown,” and he was “clean favored” (Lines 3 and 4) yet the high class, respectable man was troubled on the inside. Appearance is the perfect was to present wholeness as an individual because it flatters the outer shell of the body, reflecting the thoughts and feelings. Though appearance does not show misery and loneliness. While Robinson represents a well known man as being happy and content, Auden reflects on an unknown man who was “popular with his makes,” more than he was “The Greater Community” (Line 5) Though Auden presents his subject as an unknown citizen, he expirences the same misery as Cory. “Was he free? Was he happy? The question is absurd.” (Lines 28 through 29) The appearance of the two men is overwhelming and certainly a deep subject to think about, but while “being human” (Line 6) is important, it is even more so to open our eyes and let reality take a stab at us humans, and our life.
Along with the similarities and differences, to each of the poem, the social rank of the two men have similar positions. Robinson presents Cory as a well-known man when “people on the pavement looked at him.” (Line 2) their “pulses fluttered when he said good morning.” (Line 8 through 9) but if the community members were really interested in Cory’s true standing, they would’ve been a better whole if they would’ve stepped back to reassure Cory he wasn’t just liked because of his looks. In comparison, Auden gives off the impression the citizen had “no official complaint. (Line 2) he never stepped out of his comfort zone and took his own path, he was demanded by government’s persuasion to make his life a robotic and “useful” time. “When there was peace, he was for peace. When there was war, he went.” (Line 25) appearance is important to reality because, like these two men, money and always following the rules does not supply all life’s needs, and will end in misery.
Though these poems have two different scenarios, the both reflect on the same topic of a stereotypical reality. Cory, as a godly man who’s respected, and the unknown own citizen, who is an ordinary man who is only respected for “following rules.” Overall, these two poems teach us that appearance can damage our personal needs with society around us, and following the perfect rule book will lead us into wondering if we are fully happy. It is important to make sure our appearance isn’t too overwhelming, and blinding us from reality, because we could miss out on an opportunity of a lifetime.