The unknown citizen
W. H. Auden's poem 'The Unknown Citizen' is a satirical commentary on the dehumanizing effects of modern society's bureaucratic systems. It presents a fictional report on a man who is deemed a perfect citizen by the state because he conforms to societal norms and expectations. The poem critiques how the state values individuals based on their adherence to rules and their statistical contributions, rather than their personal qualities or individuality. By parodying the concept of a monument to an 'unknown citizen,' Auden highlights the absurdity of reducing a person's life to mere data points. The poem reflects on themes of conformity, identity, and the loss of personal freedom in a highly regulated society. Through its ironic tone and use of bureaucratic language, Auden underscores the tension between individuality and the collective demands of the state.
| Word | In English | Plain (English) | Pron. |
|---|---|---|---|
| unknown | not known | not familiar or famous | uhn-nohn |
| citizen | member of a state | someone who belongs to a country | si-ti-zuhn |
| bureaucratic | related to administration | involving a lot of complicated rules and processes | byoo-roh-krat-ik |
| impersonal | cold or detached | not showing personal feelings | im-pur-suh-nl |
| conformity | compliance | acting like everyone else | kuhn-fawr-mi-tee |
| statistics | numerical data | numbers that show information | stuh-tis-tiks |
| parody | imitation with exaggeration | a funny copy | par-uh-dee |
| monument | memorial structure | a big statue or building to remember something | mon-yuh-muhnt |
| identity | sense of self | who someone is | ahy-den-ti-tee |
| ironic | sarcastic | saying the opposite of what you mean | ahy-ron-ik |
Wystan Hugh Auden was a British-American poet known for his technical virtuosity and engagement with politics, morals, love, and religion. Born in 1907, he moved to the United States in 1939 and became an American citizen in 1946. Auden's work spans a wide range of themes and styles, and he was a prominent figure in 20th-century poetry.
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