Identify and explain two themes in the poem "Richard Cory" by Edwin Arlington Robinson.

Loneliness - Richard Cory has everything it seems. He had money and nice things. He was a decent looking fellow. But despite all of this, he did not have friends or family it seemed to share in his accomplishments or delight.

Contrasting perspectives - The people who speak of Richard Cory see him as almost royalty. He is everything that each of them would hope to be. When they see him on the street they all admire and envy him, because he has the luxuries that they do not. However, his life must not have been what they perceived, because Richard Cory ends up committing suicide. Usually when someone takes their own life, it is because they are greatly unhappy with it.