'The Unknown Citizen' by W.H.Auden

About poet :

W.H. Auden (Wystan Hugh Auden) was an English-American poet, playwright, and essayist who lived from 1907 to 1973. He was one of the leading literary figures of the 20th century and is considered one of the greatest poets of the modern era.

Auden's poetry is known for its technical mastery, intellectual depth, and social consciousness. His early works, such as "Poems" (1930) and "The Orators" (1932), are marked by a surrealistic and often apocalyptic tone. Later in his career, his poetry became more reflective and introspective, with a focus on moral and political issues.

Some of Auden's most famous poems include "Funeral Blues," "The Shield of Achilles," and "September 1, 1939." He also wrote a nuseveralys, including "The Dog Beneath the Skin" and "The Ascent of F6," and several works of nonfiction, including "The Dyer's Hand" and "A Certain World."

Auden was a prolific writer who was widely respected by his contemporaries, and his work continues to be studied and appreciated by scholars and readers today.

Poem :

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,

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 Instalment Plan

And had everything necessary for 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.

Summary :

"The Unknown Citizen" is a poem by W.H. Auden, published in 1939. The poem is a satire on the concept of the ideal citizen in a modern bureaucratic society.

The poem describes an unnamed man who lived an unremarkable life, conforming to all the rules and regulations of society. He had a job, paid his taxes, served in the military, and even had a subscription to the newspaper. His life was so ordinary and uneventful that the government considered him a model citizen.

The poem is a critique of modern industrial society, which values conformity over individuality. The citizen in the poem is not known for any unique traits or accomplishments, but rather for his ability to fit into the system. The poem suggests that this type of society can stifle creativity and individuality, leading to a homogenized population that is easily controlled by the government.  

Stanza 1: The poem begins by introducing an unnamed man who lived in a modern industrial society. The man is described as a "saint" and a "model citizen" who never caused any trouble.

Stanza 2: The poem describes the man's life in detail, emphasizing how he conformed to all the rules and regulations of society. He had a job, paid his taxes, served in the military, and had a subscription to the newspaper.

Stanza 3: The government considered the man a model citizen, and he was even honored with a marble monument that celebrated his conformity to the system. The monument listed all of the man's accomplishments, which were all ordinary and unremarkable.

Stanza 4: The poem suggests that the man's life was so ordinary and uneventful that he was forgotten by history. His life was reduced to a set of statistics, and the government used him as an example of the ideal citizen.

Stanza 5: The poem challenges the idea of the ideal citizen in modern society, suggesting that it values conformity over individuality. The government views its citizens as mere statistics, rather than as individuals with unique perspectives and experiences.

Stanza 6: The poem concludes by emphasizing the idea that the government controls its citizens by promoting conformity and discouraging individuality. The citizen in the poem is not known for any unique traits or accomplishments, but rather for his ability to fit into the system. The poem challenges the reader to consider the value of individuality and the dangers of conformity in modern society.

• Theme : 
• Theme 1: Conformity in Modern Bureaucratic Society

Main Point: The poem critiques modern society's emphasis on conformity over individuality.

Details:

The unnamed man in the poem is considered a model citizen because he conforms to all the rules and regulations of society.

The man's life is ordinary and unremarkable, suggesting that creativity and individuality are undervalued in modern society.

The government honors the man with a marble monument that celebrates his conformity to the system.

The poem suggests that modern society can stifle creativity and individuality, leading to a homogenized population that is easily controlled by the government.

• Theme 2: The Dangers of Conformity

Main Point: The poem presents the dangers of conformity in modern society.

Details:

The government in the poem values citizens who follow the rules and do not cause any trouble, creating a society in which citizens are discouraged from expressing their unique perspectives and experiences.

The man in the poem is forgotten by history, reduced to a set of statistics that the government can use to promote conformity and discourage individuality.

The poem suggests that conformity can have negative consequences for individuals and society as a whole, as it can stifle creativity, promote groupthink, and lead to a loss of personal identity.

• Theme 3: The Reduction of Individuals to Statistics

Main Point: The poem presents the idea that modern society reduces individuals to statistics.

Details:

The man in the poem is reduced to a set of statistics that the government can use to promote conformity and discourage individuality.

The government in the poem views its citizens as mere statistics, rather than as individuals with unique perspectives and experiences.

The poem suggests that reducing individuals to statistics can dehumanize them, making it easier for the government to control them and manipulate public opinion.

"The Unknown Citizen" by W.H. Auden does not follow a consistent rhyme scheme throughout the poem. Instead, Auden uses various poetic techniques, such as alliteration, assonance, and internal rhyme, to create a musical and rhythmic effect.

For example, in the first stanza, Auden uses internal rhyme in the lines "He was found by the Bureau of Statistics to be" and "A saint, an in, dispensable man." This creates a subtle, musical effect that draws the reader's attention to these lines.

Throughout the poem, Auden also employs alliteration and assonance to create a sense of rhythm and musicality. For example, in stanza two, he uses alliteration in the lines "Our researchers into Public Opinion are content" and "And our Social Psychology workers found." This creates a sense of repetition and flow that adds to the poem's musicality.

Overall, while "The Unknown Citizen" does not follow a strict rhyme scheme, Auden's use of various poetic techniques creates a musical and rhythmic effect that adds to the poem's overall impact.

• Main Idea :

The main idea of "The Unknown Citizen" by W.H. Auden is to critique modern society's emphasis on conformity and the dangers of reducing individuals to mere statistics. The poem presents a model citizen who lives an ordinary and unremarkable life but is praised by the government for conforming to all the rules and regulations of society.

The poem suggests that modern society can stifle creativity and individuality, leading to a homogenized population that is easily controlled by the government. Furthermore, the government views its citizens as mere statistics, reducing individuals to a set of numbers that can be used to promote conformity and discourage individuality.

The poem presents the idea that reducing individuals to statistics can dehumanize them, making it easier for the government to control them and manipulate public opinion. Auden's critique of modern society's emphasis on conformity and the dangers of reducing individuals to statistics is still relevant today and continues to inspire conversations about individuality, freedom, and the role of government in modern society.

• Setting of Poem :

A poem has no specific setting in terms of time or place. Instead, it presents a generalized and abstract vision of modern society, which could be anywhere in the world. The poem's focus is on the model citizen, who is praised by the government for his conformity and lack of individuality.

The poem takes place in an unspecified location, possibly a dystopian society where the government controls every aspect of citizens' lives, reducing them to mere statistics. The poem's setting is symbolic of modern society and its emphasis on conformity, bureaucratic control, and the loss of individuality.

The poem's lack of a specific setting is intentional, as Auden's critique of modern society's emphasis on conformity and the dangers of reducing individuals to statistics is not limited to a particular time or place. Instead, the poem's message is meant to be universal, applaud icable to any society that values conformity over individuality.

(Words : 1655)