Narrated from the town’s point of view, the poem immediately creates a separation between the average townsperson and this figure that is Richard Cory. The townspeople and Richard Cory are not alike. The poem’s point of view sets the town apart from Cory, not necessarily in opposition to Cory (the people do not appear to wish him direct harm), but it does prop up this person as someone unique or special. This reaction is reinforced repeatedly throughout the poem, pointing to shock or surprise upon seeing Cory: “We people on the pavement looked at him” (Line 2). However, Cory does not appear to be doing anything particularly surprising or shocking. The opening line of the poem states he simply “went down town” (Line 1), an action any regular person takes routinely. In many ways, looking at Cory, Cory’s physical appearance entices his voyeurs. The first three stanzas of this four-stanza poem are concerned with looks and appearances. However, this is the deep irony of the poem, as one of the poem’s messages is that appearances are deceiving.

The townspeople are very keen to point out the most captivating of Cory’s physical qualities. They describe that he is a gentleman before describing his looks and mannerisms, proclaiming their assumptions about who he is and the life he leads before examining the details.