'The Unknown Citizen' by W.H. Auden


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(To JS/07/M/378/ This Marble Monument
Is Erected by the State)

He was found by the Bureau of Statistics to be
One against whom there was no official complaint,
And all the reports on his conduct agree
That, in the modern sense of an old-fashioned word, he was a
saint,
For in everything he did he served the Greater Community.
Except for the War till the day he retired
He worked in a factory and never got fired
But satisfied his employers, Fudge Motors Inc.
Yet he wasn't a scab or odd in his views,
For his Union reports that he paid his dues,
(Our report on his Union shows it was sound)
And our Social Psychology workers found
That he was popular with his mates and liked a drink.
The Press are convinced that he bought a paper every day
And that his reactions to advertisements were normal in every
way.
Policies taken out in his name prove that he was fully insured,
And his Health-card shows he was once in hospital but left it
cured.
Both Producers Research and High-Grade Living declare
He was fully sensible to the advantages of the Installment Plan
And had everything necessary to the Modern Man,
A phonograph, a radio, a car and a frigidaire.
Our researchers into Public Opinion are content
That he held the proper opinions for the time of year;
When there was peace, he was for peace: when there was war,
he went.
He was married and added five children to the population,
Which our Eugenist says was the right number for a parent of
his generation.
And our teachers report that he never interfered with their
education.
Was he free? Was he happy? The question is absurd:
Had anything been wrong, we should certainly have heard.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Unknown Citizen by W.H. Auden: A Critique and Interpretation

W.H. Auden’s poem, “The Unknown Citizen,” is a scathing critique of modern society’s tendency to reduce individuals to mere statistics and numbers. The poem highlights the dehumanizing effects of bureaucracy and mass culture, and it questions the value of conformity in a free society. In this 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore Auden’s use of language, form, and irony to convey his message, and I will analyze the poem’s themes and symbolism.

The Context

Auden wrote “The Unknown Citizen” in 1939, a time when the world was on the brink of war, and totalitarian regimes were gaining power. The poem was published in 1940, in the midst of World War II, and it reflects the growing concern about the loss of individual rights and freedoms in modern societies. The poem was also written in response to a particular event in Auden’s life. In 1934, Auden and his friend Christopher Isherwood visited a model housing estate in the north of England, where they saw a plaque commemorating a “satisfied citizen” who had died in the Great War. Auden was struck by the irony of the plaque, which celebrated a man who had no real identity or personality, but was merely a conformist who had followed the rules and fulfilled his duties as a citizen.

The Poem

The poem is structured as a series of eight quatrains, with an ABAB rhyme scheme. The rhythm is irregular, with lines of varying lengths, and no fixed meter. The poem is written in the third person, and it presents the life of an ordinary citizen in the voice of an anonymous bureaucrat. The poem begins by describing the citizen’s life in detail, from his birth to his death, and it concludes by celebrating him as a model citizen who has fulfilled all the requirements of the state.

The Themes

The primary theme of the poem is the dehumanization of the individual in modern society. The poem portrays the citizen as a product of the state, rather than as a unique individual with his own identity and desires. The poem emphasizes the citizen’s conformity to the norms of society, as evidenced by his membership in various organizations, his adherence to the rules of the workplace, and his lack of any personal opinions or beliefs. The poem also critiques the role of bureaucracy in modern society, as expressed through the voice of the government official who describes the citizen’s life in bureaucratic language.

The poem also explores the theme of propaganda and mass culture. The poem suggests that the state uses propaganda to create a false sense of unity and conformity among its citizens. The poem highlights the contrast between the citizen’s life as described by the government official and his actual life, as seen through the eyes of the poem’s narrator.

The Symbolism

The poem uses several symbols to convey its message. The most significant symbol is the “marble monument,” which represents the dehumanization and commodification of the individual in modern society. The monument represents the state’s desire to create a uniform and anonymous citizenry, and it celebrates the citizen’s conformity and obedience to the state. The monument also represents the state’s desire to control the past, by erasing any trace of individuality or rebellion from history.

Another symbol in the poem is the “free and intelligent” country, which represents the ideal of individual freedom and creativity. The poem suggests that this ideal is under threat from the forces of conformity and bureaucracy, and that it can only be preserved through individual resistance and rebellion.

The Irony

The poem is characterized by a strong sense of irony, which is used to undercut the government official’s bland and bureaucratic description of the citizen’s life. The poem’s narrator uses irony to suggest that the citizen’s life was far from ideal, and that the official’s description is a distortion of the truth. For example, when the official describes the citizen’s death as “satisfactory,” the narrator responds with the ironic statement, “Was he free? Was he happy? The question is absurd.”

The poem also uses irony to critique the state’s use of propaganda and mass culture. The poem suggests that the state uses propaganda to create a false sense of unity and conformity among its citizens, and that it celebrates conformity and obedience over individuality and creativity. The poem’s narrator uses irony to suggest that the state’s celebration of the citizen is a hollow and meaningless gesture, and that it conceals the state’s true desire to control and subjugate its citizens.

The Language

The language of the poem is simple and direct, but it is also infused with irony and sarcasm. The language of the government official is bureaucratic and impersonal, and it emphasizes the citizen’s conformity and obedience to the state. The narrator’s language, on the other hand, is more emotional and subjective, and it emphasizes the citizen’s humanity and individuality. The use of repetition and rhetorical questions throughout the poem gives it a sense of urgency and intensity, and it underscores the poem’s critique of modern society.

The Interpretation

Auden’s “The Unknown Citizen” is a powerful critique of modern society’s tendency to reduce individuals to mere statistics and numbers. The poem highlights the dehumanizing effects of bureaucracy and mass culture, and it questions the value of conformity in a free society. The poem uses irony, symbolism, and language to convey its message, and it challenges the reader to think about the true meaning of citizenship and freedom.

The poem’s message is as relevant today as it was when it was written, and it serves as a warning against the dangers of totalitarianism and authoritarianism. The poem suggests that the preservation of individual freedom and creativity is essential to the survival of a free and democratic society, and that this ideal can only be preserved through individual resistance and rebellion. As Auden himself wrote, “We must love one another or die.”

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Unknown Citizen: A Masterpiece of Social Criticism

W.H. Auden's poem "The Unknown Citizen" is a masterpiece of social criticism that satirizes the conformity and dehumanization of modern society. Written in 1939, the poem is a commentary on the rise of totalitarianism and the erosion of individuality in the face of bureaucratic control. It tells the story of a man who is celebrated as a model citizen by the state, but whose life is reduced to a set of statistics and a list of accomplishments. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and language of the poem, and examine its relevance to contemporary society.

The poem is structured as a mock epitaph, a tribute to the "Unknown Citizen" who has been "approved by the State." The tone is ironic and detached, as if the speaker is reading from a government report or a corporate brochure. The poem is divided into four stanzas, each of which describes a different aspect of the citizen's life. The first stanza establishes the setting and tone of the poem, describing the "modern, efficient" city where the citizen lived and worked. The second stanza lists the citizen's accomplishments, including his job, his family, and his hobbies. The third stanza describes the citizen's conformity to social norms, including his political views, his religious beliefs, and his leisure activities. The final stanza concludes with a tribute to the citizen's "normal" life, and the assertion that he was "satisfied with his fate."

The poem's central theme is the dehumanization of the individual in a society that values conformity and efficiency above all else. The citizen is celebrated not for his individuality or creativity, but for his ability to fit in and follow the rules. His life is reduced to a set of statistics and a list of accomplishments, and his identity is subsumed by the state. The poem is a critique of the modern world, where technology and bureaucracy have replaced human connection and creativity, and where individuality is sacrificed for the sake of efficiency.

The language of the poem is simple and direct, with a dry wit that underscores the irony of the situation. The use of the third person and the passive voice reinforces the sense of detachment and objectivity, as if the citizen is being observed from a distance. The repetition of phrases such as "he was" and "he had" emphasizes the mechanical nature of the citizen's life, and the lack of agency or autonomy. The poem is full of jargon and cliches, such as "normal," "satisfied," and "productive," which serve to reinforce the conformity and banality of the citizen's life.

The poem's relevance to contemporary society is clear. In an age of social media and big data, where our lives are increasingly monitored and quantified, the poem speaks to the dangers of conformity and dehumanization. The pressure to conform to social norms and to present a sanitized version of ourselves online can lead to a loss of individuality and creativity. The poem also speaks to the dangers of bureaucracy and the erosion of democracy, as the state seeks to control every aspect of our lives in the name of efficiency and security.

In conclusion, "The Unknown Citizen" is a powerful critique of modern society, and a warning against the dangers of conformity and dehumanization. Its ironic tone and simple language make it accessible to a wide audience, while its themes and structure make it a masterpiece of social criticism. As we navigate the challenges of the 21st century, we would do well to heed the poem's message, and to strive for a world where individuality and creativity are valued above conformity and efficiency.

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