Why was Richard Cory envied?

in his poem
"" explains a man's life in sixteen lines.  The simplicity and duplicity of life are
summarized in these splendidly written lines.  Much like O. Henry in his story stories, Robinson
gives the reader a seemingly ordinary description of a much admired man and then shocks the
reader with the conclusion of the poem. 

In the poem, the reader will
discover Robinson commenting on the class system present in his day between those that have and
those who do not. Believing someone should be admired for his dress, his wealth, and manners is
forgetting about what is most important in a man: his character and the reality of his
life.

The poem speaks to the idea that one never knows what is going on
behind closed doors. So who was this Richard Cory?  He was a man of gentlemanly manners and
etiquette.  Handsome, well-dressed, but not showy--these are the attributes the
townspeople ascribed to Cory.   He did not "put on airs," nor was he loud
and boisterous in his conversations among the people.  It seemed almost that there was an aura
around him as moved in the town. Because he was  well-educated and extremely rich, the commoners
admired him so much that they wished they were he. Yet, men must go with their lives working and
hoping that things will improve.  What does this greatly admired man, Richard Cory,  who
seemingly has everything, do: he commits suicide.  Wow! Is that a surprise for
everyone?

The question asked was "Why was Richard Cory envied?" The
people who observed Cory in his daily life knew only what they saw and heard and that seemed
admirable,  even wonderful. They were unable to see into his  heart and mind to find the obvious
misery and unhappiness that he must have felt.