May 6, 2015
 “Richard Cory,” and, “The Unknown Citizen,” are both powerful poems that through masks of elegant appearance and a, “perfect record,” challenge the importance of appearance compared to reality. Robinson’s poem features the powerful, graceful, emperor-like Cory, who kills himself even though he has money, high social rank, and disarming good looks. Similarly, Auden’s poem features a government official reading the eulogy of a citizen that appeared to do no wrong, but whose happiness and joy was unknown to the government. The death of the two characters challenges the importance of appearance through characterization, ability to assert themselves, and level of success.
 The characterization of Richard Cory and The Unknown Citizen, featuring the citizen’s adoration of Cory and the fake happiness associated with, “The Unknown Citizen,” challenge the importance of appearance. For example, Robinson writes that all of the, “people on the pavement looked at him: He was a gentleman from sole to crown clean favored, and imperially slim,” when Cory is in their presence. What the green-with-envy commoners don’t know is that despite Cory’s finances that make him,”richer than a King,” he is lonely, depressed, and craving company. Similarly, Auden uses the bureaucrat to characterize, “JS/07/M/378,” as a perfect citizen just because he had no criminal records and, “didn’t think any strange thoughts.” This challenges the importance of appearance because the Unknown Citizen is uncreative, robotic, and a slave to his own government. Also, the Unknown Citizen is marked as, “in everything he did he served the Greater Community.” Because of serving in the War and worrying about the strict rules that the government set to follow, he is considered a, “modern day saint,” which compares the government to a religion because the citizen follows it so well. Thus, both poems characterize the men as perfect, when they are really troubled and slaves to society and the government.
 “Richard Cory,” and, “The Unknown Citizen,” both challenge the appearance against reality through the character’s ability to assert themselves. In, “Richard Cory,” Richard, “fluttered pulses when he said, ‘Good morning,’ and glittered when he walked,” meaning that Cory is soft-spoken and careful with words and actions. This challenges the importance of appearance because usually someone soft-spoken would not participate in self-harm, and Cory killed himself. Thus, Cory had problems deeper than the ocean and darker than the bullet that went through his head. Cory hid all of his feelings instead of asserting himself and telling friends how he really felt, instead of continuing his ebb-and-flow perfection. Since Cory had wealth and possessions, he appeared to be happy, even though he was depressed. Robinson also gives the example of Cory’s wealth, “And he was rich-yes, richer than a King, and admirably schooled in every grace”. Since Cory does not assert himself, he is judged solely off his mannerisms, which leads to everyone thinking Cory is perfect, but Cory himself is suicidal. Similarly, in, “The Unknown Citizen,” the citizen becomes uniform to society and the government instead of living a fun, creative, unique life. For example, when described by the bureaucrat, “ Was he happy? Was he free? The question is absurd: had anything been wrong, we certainly would have heard.” This proves that the citizen was average, regular, obedient, and never did anything to make himself stand out. Though he had five children and huge potential, he did nothing to leave a legacy for his children, only a number for everything he ever did for the, “Greater Community.” Like Cory, the citizen is judged off statistics and materials, not feelings. Therefore, the importance of appearance challenges reality.
 Finally, appearance is challenged in both poems through the characters’ level of success. Since Cory is, “richer than a King,” the townspeople can’t understand how he could live a life that opposed the, royal, god-like, unrealistic example that he showed in town. Based on success, townspeople, “wanted that we were in his place,” instead of realizing their own talents and attributes. Cory’s success makes the story more interesting, and adds mystery to the sudden tragedy. However, the Unknown Citizen’s success is marginal, average, and stoic which challenges the appearance that he is a perfect citizen or a, “modern day saint,” which is stated by the bureaucrat. Since the citizen’s success is marginal, he does not compare to Cory’s demise.         

Overall, both poems challenge the importance of appearance with the common lesson of don’t trust in appearance, and stand out from others. They also share that appearance does not equal reality, such as when Cory is valued highly in the community as a gentleman only to kill himself. Because of Cory’s success and the citizen’s hyped up perfection, their suicide and uneventful life destroys the importance of appearance.