virtues that Richard Cory has make it seem likely that he would be happy and satisfied with his life. Yet he must not be, because he ends up committing suicide. This is ironic because it is so unexpected.

Another irony of the poem, however, is that the "people on the pavement" curse their bread. Instead of being thankful for what they have and finding joy in their lives, they wait "for the light" and wish that they were in Richard Cory's place. This is dramatic irony--when the reader knows something the character doesn't realize. The personae in the poem, the "we," don't realize that their envy robs them of their joy, but readers can contemplate that if Richard Cory's money didn't buy him happiness, then the speakers' unhappiness with their lives is not due to their financial situation either. 

"Richard Cory" contains obvious situational irony, since the character who has everything going for him kills himself. It also has dramatic irony because readers understand what the speakers in the poem don't realize, namely that their lack of happiness cannot be alleviated by financial gain.

Richard Cory by Edwin Arlington Robinson is a tragic tale that is still relevant in the twenty-first century even though it was written for an audience or reader of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. People suffering from shortages because of economic depression cannot conceive why a person whom they clearly hold in high esteem and who is "admirably schooled in every grace" could be leading such a troubled life. It remains ironic how people measure success by wealth and status. Richard Cory is "richer than a king" and is treated like one by the townspeople.

Only with hindsight is it clear that what Richard really wants is companionship and community. He has never set himself apart by his demeanor or his behavior; he remains friendly and the narrator finds it necessary to mention that he is "human" as the reader may otherwise be surprised that a man of his status is down-to-earth. It is ironic that the narrator makes this comment as the townspeople treat him as if he is a hero and far above the realm of "human." His suicide however proves otherwise and confirms that he has serious concerns even though his concerns differ from theirs. He obviously never "went without the meat..." 

Additionally, there is more irony in the fact that the townspeople strive to be like Richard Cory when he is really the last person they should emulate as his life is obviously not idyllic just because he is wealthy. The final irony seems to be in Richard's own attempts to connect which in fact only serve to create more distance between him and the townspeople who are so in awe of him that he "glittered when he walked." Just as the "calm summer night" belies the harsh reality of life so too does Richard Cory's apparent privilege fool the townspeople into believing that "he was everything."

The irony is found in the end of the poem. "And Richard Cory one calm summer night / Went home and put a bullet through his head." After describing Richard Cory as the man everyone else wanted to be, the author suddenly twists the poem, showing Richard Cory's suicide. "Calm" increases the irony, because it gives a false illusion of peace and contentment, only to be shattered by Richard Cory "putting a bullet through his head." Its situational irony.

In situational irony, an event occurs that directly contradicts expectations.

This contradiction lies in the perspective of the townspeople with regard to Richard Cory. In descriptions of Richard Cory, it becomes clear that the residents of the town perceive him as greatly elevated from them in social and economic class. First of all, he does not live where they do. The narrators are "on the pavement"; that is, they dwell in the heart of the city. Their main occupations are centered in the city where the jobs used to be for the men. There, too, women care for their families at home, or they work as servants for the wealthy like Mr. Cory. But, during the Depression of 1893, the setting of this poem, many people are out of work. This is why they "went without the meat, and cursed the bread," their main form of subsistence.

As one of the upper class, Richard Cory does not suffer as do the citizens of the town. He is "richer than a king" and "imperially slim," not starved as they are. Therefore, because of their dire poverty during the Depression, the citizens feel completely estranged from Richard Cory, perceiving him only as a typical member of the wealthy class, except for the fact that he speaks to people. Nevertheless, they misinterpret his "good morning" as simply an example of how he is "schooled in every grace" rather than his genuine desire to communicate with others because of his wealthy isolation.

The (situational) irony, of course, is that the common people misinterpret Richard Cory's demeanor and speech. Convinced that Cory is happy because he suffers no financial want and he is handsome, so much so that he "flutter[s] pulses" when he speaks and "glitters" as he walks, they are shocked when, "one calm summer night" Richard Cory commits suicide. This act of despair does not fit with their perceptions and expectations of such a wealthy gentleman, at all.

Irony is defined in Enotes' Guide to Literary Terms as "a figure of speech in which the literal meaning...is the opposite of that intended".  More specifically, situational irony is when the irony stems from the situation of the story or poem itself.  An example of situational irony might be when a pickpocket gets his own pocket picked.

In "Richard Cory", the poet, E.A. Robinson, describes Mr. Cory's life in consistently positive terms.  Richard Cory is a gentleman, he is rich, people are in awe of him.  His state of life, or situation, as set forth by the writer is eminently desireable; he has achieved a high level of material status and comfort, things for which most everyone aspires.  Our society leads people to believe that if they can only attain these things, they will be happy.  Richard Cory has done that, he must be very happy, people want to be like him.

The irony of Richard Cory's situation is that, despite all indications to the contrary, he is not happy at all.  In fact, he is so unhappy, he kills himself.

Robinson, in this poem, uses situational irony to get his message across.  Taken in literal terms, Richard Cory has a great life, but in reality, it is empty, not wonderful in the least.

The irony is at the end of the poem. The author spends the entire poem describing Richard Cory as the ideal man - that guy that everyone 'wants to be'. The peacefulness and 'perfectness' is further accentuated with language such as "calm", "quietly", "grace". It's a 'summer night', rather than a wintery storm.

The irony is 'situational', rather than 'comical' - that is, the expected ending does not eventuate. Here, the outcome, delivered bluntly in the last line of the poem, (Went home and put a bullet through his head) completely changes the situation, mood and feel of the poem.

The poem also uses 'verbal irony' - the meaning that is employed is sharply different from the meaning that is obviously expressed. Here, Richard is described as being "richer than a king". But richness in life cannot be measured individually by either happiness, or wealth. Rather, 'richness' is the result of a fulfilled life.