In Edwin Arlington Robinson's poem "Richard Cory," what effect does repetition produce, especially in the lines that begin with the word "And"?

In his justly famous poem “Richard Cory,” Edwin Arlington
Robinson proves himself a master of effective phrasing – even in the use of such
apparently simple techniques as repetition and such apparently simple words as
“and.”

The lines that begin with the word “And” are grouped
together in pairs:

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And he was always quietly
arrayed,

And he was always human when he talked . . .
(5-6)

.       .       .       .       .      
.

And he was rich--yes, richer than a
king--

And admirably schooled in every grace . . .
(9-10)

.       .       .       .       .      
.

And went without the meat and cursed the
bread;

And Richard Cory, one calm summer night . . .
(14-15)

Lines 5-6 use
repetition more than simply in the repeated uses of “And,” and the whole effect of such
lines is to imply that Cory’s life was utterly consistent and predictable.  Similarly,
the effect of lines 9-10 is to suggest that Cory’s social advantages were utterly
obvious and abundant.  Nothing at all seems inconsistent or out of control in Cory’s
life, and he is particularly blessed with the kind of money that most of the other
townspeople seem to lack.  Thus the speaker repeats the idea of that Cory was “rich” by
immediately saying that he was “richer” than a king.

The
next pairing of lines beginning with “And,” however, violates the patterns already
established.  The earlier pairings had been completely focused on Cory (as is most of
the rest of the poem), but in line 14 the phrasing focuses instead on the disadvantaged
townspeople. Line 15 returns the focus to Cory again, but it does so just before the
next line announces Cory’s death by suicide.  Most of the earlier uses of lines
beginning with “And” had emphasized the predictability and advantages of Cory’s life,
but the final line radically disrupts any sense of predictability and radically
undermines any sense of Cory’s advantages.

Repetition,
however, is also employed effectively in other parts of the poem.  Thus, because of the
use of “whenever,” line 1 suggests that Cory repeatedly “went down town,” just as he was
repeatedly “looked at” by the other townspeople (2). Likewise, lines 7-8 imply that Cory
“fluttered pulses” on more than simply one isolated occasion, just as he also repeatedly
said “‘Good morning,’ and glittered when he walked.” Meanwhile, lines 13-14 imply that
the other townspeople repeatedly

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worked, and waited for the
light,

And went without the meat and cursed the
bread.

Indeed, perhaps the
only singular, unexpected, and unrepeated act mentioned in the entire poem is Cory’s
abrupt suicide – a fact that makes his death seem all the more shocking and
mysterious.