. His slimness (stanza1), quietness and fluttering and glittering (stanza2), his being richer than a king and his enviably perfect manners (stanza3) all become ironic in the light of the fact that none of them were making his personal life happy and satisfying. - See more at: http://www.bachelorandmaster.com/britishandamericanpoetry/richard-cory.html#.V9oWV70xXqA