Final answer:
Edwin Arlington Robinson narrates "Richard Cory" from the perspective of a townsperson to emphasize Cory's wealth and status, create a contrast between appearance and reality, and add dramatic irony to the poem.
Step-by-step explanation:
Edwin Arlington Robinson chooses to narrate the poem "Richard Cory" from the perspective of a townsperson to emphasize Cory's wealth and status. The townsperson represents the collective viewpoint of the ordinary people who admire and envy Cory's apparent success and position in society. This perspective also creates a contrast between Cory's outward appearance and the perspectives of the town's people, ultimately highlighting the theme that external appearances do not always reflect inner happiness or reality.
The townsperson's narration also adds to the poem's dramatic irony, as the townspeople are unaware of Cory's inner feelings, while the shocking end of the poem reveals that despite his enviable characteristics, Richard Cory was deeply unhappy.