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1 st^ National Seminar of PBI (English Language Education)
THE MEANING OF EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON POEM
“RICHARD CORY” BASED ON THE DYNAMIC STRUCTURALISM
THEORY
Dyan Sethya Nugroho, M. Saeful Arif, Siska Widyasari Pekalongan University, UNIKAL Indonesia dyansethyanugroho@gmail.com
Abstract
Dynamic structuralism is a perfect form of the structuralism theory which is a concept to analyse the poem to get its meaning comprehensively. The research therefore aims to describe the elements contruction of the poem and the meaning of the poem based on the dynamic structuralism theory. This research applies qualitative descriptive method through dynamic structuralism approach. The poem is “Richard Cory” by Edwin Arlington Robinson. Based on analysis, the researchers describe Richard as if he were royalty: rich, worldly, well spoken, and educated. Contrasts the discontented, frustated lives of small town people with the seemingly successful and wealthly existence of their hero, Richard Cory. Richard Cory is a poem which shows why we should not judge people on appearances as it subvert our expectation in the final line. Richard Cory is basically an ironic poem. It deals with the irony that rich people are not happy with their life and the poor think that wealth is the guarantee of happiness.
Keywords: Richard Cory poem, Dynamic structuralism theory, meaning
Introduction Basically, poetry looks popular because of its pattern in short and dense. From the pattern, poetry then is easier to read and does not take much time to read it for a whole, even sometimes can be memorized. Unlike other literary works (such as drama or prose), poetry gives opportunity to the readers to interpret through word by word, line by line, stanza by stanza, or all the poem as a whole to get its meaning thoroughly. In order to obtain the overall meaning thoroughly, poetry involves three important elements, namely aesthetic function, density, and indirect expression (Pradopo, 2005: 315). These three elements indicate that poetry holds a million beautyful
things through the use of density and meaningful words. Poetry in its aesthetic function contains beautiful things, so it is always poetic for all the time. In terms of poetry creation, poetry is concretely born in the form of a dense string of words or sometimes using fgurative languages, but always beautiful as it sounds. Ten in terms of meaning, poetry contains a particular meaning that actually touches the way of human life.
Based on these three elements which complete each other, poetry finally becomes the greatest interesting of literary works by the various audiences. As a literary genre
1 st^ National Seminar of PBI (English Language Education)
with an aesthetic function, Semi (1993: 1) revealed that literature born by the author is expected to give the aesthetic and intellect satisfactions for the audiences. However, the audiences sometimes cannot enjoy and understand the works completely because they are not able to properly interpret the structure of the works. Terefore, the meaning obtained is also not comprehensively. In fact, the writer has never found poetry is written in stages and also does not know the form of poetry continued. This form or style distinguishes poetry with other works, such as novel, short story, or drama that are sometimes found in serials. Terefore, it is clear that every time a poem is created, the author instantly creates his or her work in a complete work, eventhough sometimes ends with a question mark. Nevertheless, it does not mean that the poem is unfnished. It is one poem and one work in one creation completely. As a complete work, poetry also shall be read, understood, and reviewed in its entirety and completely. According to Pradopo (2007: 149), one step that can be done to examine poetry comprehensively is to integrate the results of intrinsic and extrinsic elements. Te study of intrinsic element of poetry includes the text of the work as a basic, while its extrinsic element includes the felds supporting of the work, such as the history of the author, the object, the
reality, and the reader. It is a reaction to complete the previous examination of literary work in classical structuralism. This study of such poetry by Pradopo (2007: 146) is called dynamic structuralism. From various analytical perspectives that can be taken to analyze a literary work, the writer considers it necessary to analyze the poetry structurally at frst, then relates the poem to the author, the reality, the work, and the reader. The four are the main points of the dynamic structuralism as described by Teeuw (1988: 190), Sayuti (1994: 89), Pradopo (2007: 146), Darmawati (2010: 139), and Endraswara (2013: 62-62). In line with this, the meaning of the poem can also be found completely and comprehensively. By considering the main points of a poem with its poetic elements structurally and the components of the dynamic structuralism, then fnding up the meaning of the poem, the researchers are too interested to focus this study on the structure of the text as a whole at frst, and then relates to the four components of the dynamic structuralism in formulating its whole meaning. For the researchers, it is very interesting and a rarely way in fnding up the meaning of the poem through the two ways as described previously. In this study, the researchers introduce an Edwin’s poem of “Richard Cory”. It is a selected poem having opportunity to be categorized in the
1 st^ National Seminar of PBI (English Language Education)
influenced. The qualitative method is also said as a naturalistic method by conducting in natural setting and using to search the object naturally, then the result of the research focuses on the meaning of the object (Sugiyono, 2009: 8-19). Moreover, the descriptive method usually uses to investigate a variety of problems and issues (Gay, L.R., 2006: 159). A question of how to get the meaning of a poem comprehensively as shown in the previous study problems may reflect the writer on how to analyse a poem completely, both of the intrinsic and extrinsic elements of the poem. A careful definition of the term of analysing poem through the dynamic structuralism approach will help the writer and cover the both elements built the poem. To get the result of literary work analysis comprehensively based on the problems mentioned, the both elements are important and must be involved in analysis process. In edition, it is also the critics of the classical structuralism which only focuses on the intrinsic elements of the work and rejects the other supporting elements. Therefore, the writer applies the dynamic structuralism approach introduced by Mukarovsky as mentioned in the previous field. This research is the meaning of “Richard Cory” poem by Edwin Arlington Robinson based on the dynamic structuralism theory.
Discussion As one genre of literary work, each poetry has a particular meaning based on the using of the density and meaningful words. Conversely, poetry has two different meanings or more based on the overview of the readers. In analyzing poetry, the writer is one of the readers of the poem who appreciates it from reading the poem at first. By the first step of reading, the writer interpretes the poem to get the exactly meaning. In this case, the writer introduces the selected poem to interpretate the poetic meaning based on the intrinsic elements and others influences. In discussing poetry, the writer focuses on the texture of intrinsic elements, then relates it to the other elemets to get the meaning of the poem comprehensively through dynamic structuralism approach as mention in the previously part of this writing. To get the aims efectively based on the previous problems mentioned, the researchers simply introduces the selected poem, then continues the analysis as shown in the following series.
Richard Cory by Erwin Arlington Robinson
Whenever Richard Cory went down town, We people on the pavement looked at him:
1 st^ National Seminar of PBI (English Language Education)
He was a gentleman from sole to crown, Clean favored, and imperially slim. And he was always quietly arrayed, And he was always human when he talked; But still he fluttered pulses when he said, "Good - morning," and he glittered when he walked. And he was rich yes, richer than a king And admirably schooled in every grace: In fine, we thought that he was everything To make us wish that we were in his place. So on we worked, and waited for the light, And went without the meat, and cursed the bread; And Richard Cory, one calm summer night, Went home and put a bullet through his head.
The Dynamic Structuralism of “Richard Cory” poem by Edwin Arlington Robinson. Basically, poem consists of many elements, either intrinsic or extrinsic ones. Discussing poem structurally, the poem is dominantly analyzed by its intrinsic elements. Te intrinsic elements involve the character, plot, theme, and messages. Tese elements are found through words, lines, stanzas, and poem as a whole. Moreover, the history of the
author life will help the writer in analyzing poem as one of extrinsic elements. Te result of the analysis of the both elements of the poem shows the texture of the dynamic structuralism of the poem as follows. First Stanza Whenever Richard Cory went down town, We people on the pavement looked at him: He was a gentleman from sole to crown, Clean-favoured, and imperially slim. This is our introduction to the eponymous character, Richard Cory. He is held in great esteem by the townspeople. This is clear as he attracts their attention for they ‘looked at him’ and noted that “He was a gentleman from sole to crown’. The final line of this stanza suggests that he was a morally upright fellow, and the adjective ‘imperially’ implies that he carries a sense of grace and regality about his person. Second Stanza And he was always quietly arrayed, And he was always human when he talked; But still he fluttered pulses when he said, “Good Morning!” and he glittered when he walked. The repetition of ‘And he was always’ shows a consistency and warmth of character. The fact that ‘he was always human’ indicates his sincerity. Despite his wealth and
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sounds in the first two lines of the stanza. They have insufficient money even to have access to the most basic of goods, since the ‘went without the meat and cursed the bread’, which was obviously of poor quality and lacking in nourishment. Even the word ‘cursed’ stands out here, as it seems ill-fitting after the descriptions of Cory. There is thus a disparity between their lives and that of Cory, except they are not alone in their suffering. Such are his demons, that he shocks them all, by returning home from one of his strolls in town ‘and put a bullet through his head’. The researchers are left speechless by this revelation, and the fact that this event is preceded by the line ‘one calm summer night’ further compounds their shock. The researchers face with an unexpected moment here after the whole poem that tells us how perfect Richard Cory is, the researchers end on this, the man kills himself. As it turns out, his life wasn't so flawless, perfect, or ideal in spite of everything. The researchers guess that the researchers cannot ever know exactly what is going on in someone else's head. From these last lines of the poem, it can only be inferred and deduced that Richard Cory's reality was quite different from what the townspeople expected, estimated, and assumed.
The meaning of “Richard Cory” poem by Edwin Arlington Robinson. Seemingly and according to what is being said, Richard Cory is the gorgeous and handsome guy. He has got a nice slim figure, wonderful lovely clothes, and approachable kindly treatment. And, parenthetically, he has also got a great deal of money to spend on and use for looking good. But appearances can be deceiving. In the sense that good looks do not all the time mean a happy life. We might all think that looking very nice, or having the money to spend on our appearance, might make our lives just that much better. But even Richard Cory, the richest, luckiest, and superlative looking man everywhere, is not made happy by his good looks or money. As a critical remark, in reality, there are more important things in life than looking good. The poem comprises numerous royal words such as “imperially”, “slim”, and so on to refer to Richard Cory. Richard Cory’s good looks, ostentatious as well as fashionable clothes, and on the whole, his wealth are the main reasons that the townspeople admire and respect him. Richard Cory would not deserve the respect that he does without those fashionable and stylish garments. That is to say, the townsfolk respected him because of his appearance and cloths not because of himself, his personality,
1 st^ National Seminar of PBI (English Language Education)
or what he was. This situation also designates and indicates the superficial views of the people. Based on the poem, the author of the poem ensures and certifies that we know about all those things. However, we never hear about Richard Cory's relationships and interactions with others. That is to say, it is not indicated or even not implied in the poem that whether he has any loved one such as a girlfriend, a beloved, any member of family, and so on. In fact, are uncertain and we doubt it. We may also think that the poem would not end as it does, with Richard Cory's death, if he did have those things. In reality, we can achieve that if there was not such distance between Richard and the townspeople, if he had any loved one, if he had any close friend, if he had any family member waiting for him, and so on, he would not kill himself. Therefore, although the poem doesn't elucidate it for us overtly and explicitly, we can come to this point that Richard Cory's isolation lead to his suicide. In other words, The absence of Richard's loved ones from the poem suggests that he, in effect, had no loved ones. That sad, sad isolation was the motive for his suicide.
Conclusion Richard Cory is a poem which shows why we should not judge people on appearances as it subvert our expectations in the final
line. In literature, the dynamic structuralism approach is important to be applied analyzing a poem, both classical and modern poems. The poem Richard Cory by Edwin Arlington Robinson has been analyzed based on a dynamic structuralism approach, so that an understanding of the poetic content can be obtained well. In analyzing the Edwin’s poem of “Richard Cory” through a dynamic structuralism approach, Richard Cory is a basically an ironic poem. It deals with the irony that rich people are not happy with their life, and the poor think that wealth is the guarantee of happiness. This short sixteen lined story also tells us a lot about the human irony that constantly surrounds us, the power of being admired and envied at the same time.
References Brooks, C. & R. Warren. (1960). Understanding Poetry. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Wilson. Brooks, C. & R. Warren. (1976). Understanding Poetry. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Wilson. Darmawati, Besse. (2010). Using Poetry to Develop the Students’ Writing Skill. Tesis, English Language and Education Department. Makassar: State University of Makassar. Endraswara, Suwardi. (2013). Metodologi Penelitian
