Get out the microscope, because we’re going through this poem line-by-line.
Lines 9-12
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.
- Did you think you were done hearing about Richard Cory? Oh no, think again. This stanza is gonna tell us even more about the dude.
- Not only is Mr. C. rich, he is "richer than a king." (Note again the comparison of our guy to royalty.)
- Also, take note of that casual interjection here, the "yes, richer than a king" that we find between those dashes.
- This moment gives us the feeling that we are being addressed directly by the speaker of the poem. They want to assure us that not only is Richard Cory rich, he is, in fact, super-rich—like, the Lannisters in Game of Thrones-levels of rich. Richie Rich levels of rich. We're talking… comfortably well-off.
- More great stuff about Richard Cory: he was "admirably schooled in every grace." He's polite, and he knows how to work a room. (Note that "And he was…" anaphora again; there's so much great stuff about R.C. that our speaker has to put all that stuff in list form.)
- The speaker then tells us that "in fine" (or "in sum") they "thought he was everything." This guy had good looks, good graces, money to burn—the works. And not only did he have everything, they thought he was everything.
- And, of course, everyone wished that they were in his place. And can you blame him? We mean, who wouldn't want to be Mr. Awesome?