What truly determines what it means to have a “good life”? Many believe that corporeal objects like money can never give true happiness, while relationships and a sense of purpose do. When hardships arise that seem too difficult to overcome, does life become an inconvenience, or is it still worth the pain? The fictional stories, in the form of a short poem, of Richard Cory and Lucinda Matlock - written by Edwin Arlington Robinson and Edgar Lee Masters respectively - both hold a message in regard to this question. Through startling irony, Robinson implies that even if one is “richer than a king” (9), life may still not be worth living, while Masters creates a powerful aphorism to assert that even through “discontent and drooping hopes” (19), …show more content…
Despite Richard Cory’s success educationally and financially, the speaker states, “Richard Cory, one calm summer night, / Went home and put a bullet through his head,” (15-16). This line makes it quite clear that a life of prestige is not always a life worth keeping. The speaker brings to attention many things that some would expect represents a desirable lifestyle. A note is made about the dapper and classy clothes that Cory dressed in. His level of education was said to be respectable, and he seemed to be wealthy enough to satisfy nearly any material desire he could ever have. Cory was indeed a successful man, yet his status and possessions still were not enough to grant him happiness, or solve his problems. Cory’s life was a burden, because the pleasures of life were not enough, even in the comfort of a warm summer evening, to outweigh the …show more content…
Though the speaker, Lucinda Matlock, explains the immense emotional pain she lived through in her seemingly monotonous life, she still claims sternly, “It takes life to love Life” (Masters 22). A more explanatory version of this statement is that in order to truly recognize the value of life, at times there must be death. This death refers to the deaths of eight of her children, which must be a source of heavy sorrow for Lucinda. This aphorism shows that even through a life of constant depression and sadness, there can still be enough to make living worth the pain. Nowhere in the poem does the speaker state or imply that she is particularly wealthy or highly educated. In fact, due to the many chores she must always do around the house, and the many deaths of her children, it is very likely that she and her family might be quite the opposite. One could, however, argue that she still has plenty. Lucinda speaks of the fun memories she had when she was young, like dancing and playing games. She recalls the time she met the man that she eventually married. Though eight of her children died, she claims to have had twelve, and thus she still has four children in her life. Her statement that death reveals the value of life represents Masters’ belief that one can enjoy life, even if it is a life of
Richard Allen was enslaved at birth to a family in Philadelphia of a prominent lawyer and officeholder, Benjamin Chew. Allen was sold with his family to Stokely Sturgis, a farmer in Delaware in 1768. In 1777, Allen experienced a religious conversion to Methodist. And then he later purchased his freedom in 1780. Allen was co-founder of the Free African Society in 1787, he helped many during the Yellow Fever Epidemic of Philadelphia in 1793, and he established Mother Bethel’s African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1816.
“Herbert already had what he wanted. He had had it long before the inheritance or I intruded. He had the respectability his mother had hammered into him. But just as priceless as that was an income not quite big enough to go around. It left him no alternative but… to play piano in a dive, and breathe smoke, and drink gin, to be
“Money doesn’t buy happiness.” Most children learn this proverb and immediately try to disprove it, or simply do not believe it. However, age allows one to see the truth in this phrase. In My Antonia, a novel by Willa Cather, the protagonist, Jim Burden, reflects on his childhood in the American frontier. Despite achieving wealth and an elevated social position, benefits most associate with attaining the American Dream, Jim Burden eventually realizes that true success, and happiness, is found in strong emotional connections.
Welcome to the brave New world where most decisions no longer affect your course of the future. Happiness, something we all search for in our unpredictable lives, for some, happiness comes much faster and easier, but for many others, the notion of knowing that happiness is just too far away from them ultimately causes the decision to make the only permanent escape and that is to end their life just like poor Johnny boy. Quote “Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the overcompensations for misery. (Aldous Huxley “Brave New World”) This is quite an interesting quote made in the book as it hints to suggest that happiness and contentment are actually quite dull. In fact, the struggle to achieve such, is much more interesting, livelier, more exciting. Their opposites like unfortunate events, disappointment and temptation are what make life passionate and spectacular.
Richard Cory and Curley’s wife’s loneliness is disguised by their public appearances put on them by the rest of the communities. While Richard Cory is respected for being decent and wealthy, Curley’s wife is seen as a flirty whore. Even though the men who live on the ranch with Curley and his wife constantly visited brothels, they seemingly viewed actual
Every character in the novel has moments of feeling happy and endures a moment where they believe that they are about to achieve their dreams. Naturally everyone dreams of being a better person, having better things and in 1920’s America, the scheme of get rich quick. However each character had their dreams crushed in the novel mainly because of social and economical situations and their dream of happiness becomes a ‘dead dream’ leading them back to their ‘shallow lives’ or no life at all.
Upon reading more closely, the story is revealed to present a tragic journey of a man who has lost his sanity but seeks solace in the materialistic comforts of his old life. The story succeeds in making a number of statements about human nature: that wealth is the most powerful measure of social status and anyone without it will face ostracization; that denial of one 's mistakes and unfortunate circumstances only leads to more pain; that even the most optimistic people can hold dark secrets and emotional turmoil inside them. All of these themes compel the reader to ponder their real-life implications long after the story is
“Money doesn’t buy happiness.” Most children learn this proverb and immediately try to disprove it, or simply do not believe it. However, age allows one to see the truth in this phrase. In My Antonia, a novel by Willa Cather, the protagonist, Jim Burden, reflects on his childhood in the American frontier. Despite having achieved wealth and an elevated social position, benefits most associate with attaining the American Dream, Jim Burden still longs for the happy days of his youth.
In “Richard Cory”, the main character, Richard Cory, is a man who comes across as perfect to others: a gentleman, clean, slim, educated. Richard Cory was admired by all and was the man whom everyone desired to be. Those who had admired him came from a lower class than him and looked up to him as being superior. However, despite Cory’s perfectness that was displayed to others, one night Cory did the unpredictable and shot himself in the head. Paul Laurence Dunbar was one of the first
While for some, a good life resumes in living in an expensive home, and drive expensive cars; for others, a good life is hiking a mountain or rafting in a river.
In the tale The Happy Man’s Shirt, a central theme is that riches do not guarantee happiness. The prince in the story, a boy who lacks nothing is shown to be depressed for no discernible reason. This is demonstrated when the king confronts his son, the prince. “‘What on earth do you lack?’ asked the king. ‘What’s wrong with you?’ ‘I don’t even know myself Father.’” (Author Page). Even though there is nothing that the prince could desire for he is still deeply unhappy. This emphasizes that wealth is not everything and sometimes it is better to live simply. The next instance occurs when the king, desperate for a solution seeks out happy people. He comes upon a neighboring king with a very prosperous kingdom. He seems to be the solution
For Richard Cory, the saying money can’t buy happiness, could not be more appropriate. He is, according to the people of the town, the man with everything. Everyone wished they could be more like him, “he had everything to make us wish that we were in his place”. In contrast Miniver Cheevy, had nothing to be admired for, he had done nothing with his life and yet he longed to have the adoration that Richard Cory had, the respect and almost kingly qualities, “he was a gentleman from sole to crown”. Miniver Cheevy wanted to be the hero that Cory was to the people on the street. “Miniver mourned the ripe renown that made so many a name so fragrant.”
We are able to gather the image of an extremely polished male who is not only a man but a gentleman. Richard is wealthy beyond measure and the people clearly lust for his riches. The metaphor throughout the poem which compares Richard to wealth teaches a strong lesson to the townspeople. The author closes this poem with the lines “And Richard Cory, one calm summer night / went home and put a bullet through his head. (15-16)” If we once again compare Richard to wealth, this phrase indicates that although the townspeople believe they will gain happiness from obtaining wealth, they may actually find that their calm is destroyed by wealth. Without the use of imagery and metaphor acting together throughout this piece of literature, it is my opinion that the reader may not have gained a clear picture of Richard Cory and his relationship of superiority with the people of the
Instead they rely completely on money to be happy. People often do not appreciate what they have, and they feel like they deserve better, and they complain instead of making the best of what they have. It is not necessary to be rich to enjoy life. Often those who have everything tend to live miserably. People can become too attached to money to the point that they forget about enjoying life and caring for their family. The theme of materialism is shown throughout the story of “The Rocking Horse Winner” to explain how being too attached to money can ruin people’s lives.
He gives the luster effect like a beacon of richness to all. “And he was rich, yes richer than a king. And admirably schooled in every grace.” This guy really had it all. An amazing education, meaning he probably had access to the top universities in the country. “Richer than a king.” His wealth was possibly gained by an inheritance or perhaps he was quite successful in his career. Thus far Richard Cory’s life looks to be simply paradise. He has money, education, good living conditions, looks, and popularity. Now, why would someone who appears to have everything end his or her life? As to the reasoning of Richard Cory’s decision to take his own life here are a few conclusions. The first being his wealth. There is a common knowledge that states money cannot buy happiness. He has so much yet he is bored with it and wants something to take its place. Second, he is obviously a depressed individual who does not share his emotions or thoughts with anyone. It’s interesting that he never makes an attempt to start a relationship or even a conversation with one of the town persons except for that refined “Good Morning”. Third, he might be suffering from a physical illness. Something, perhaps too embarrassing to