The Unknown Citizen By W. H. Auden

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W.H. Auden’s, “Unknown Citizen”, portrays a dark satire that in reality forces a person to lose his/her individuality and become the product of a social assembly line. The main character conforms to society for approval instead of looking within himself for his own opinions. Auden wrote the poem in 1939, shortly after becoming a citizen of United States and escaping England. The poem relinquishes evidence of his cultural collision with American social norms and bureaucracy throught he use of symbolism, rhyme scheme, and allusion.
The “Unknown citizen” gives a point of reference through symbolism, using a number instead of a name before the poem even begins. The number, “JS/07/M/378” , reduces an individual down to a number. The number in this case can resemble a one uses to proclaim arrival and departure. Clocking in features the individual working for a machine that doesn’t understand your emotion but only understands you based on a statistical report. Citizens dont voice their opinion about the system in fear of the goverment, due to the feeling of needing to be a part, which mirrors this character. Citizens also fear abandonment and don't ignite individuality because they dont know a way to express in a safe manner anymore. The goverment now has the power to detain individuals without reason. Because of the power, people are building walls of silence and scared to speak out. Auden’s character symbolizes a perfect example of how the government watches over his citizens and collects life long data, which citizens don’t benefit from because data can be used against them.
According to the speaker of the poem, “That, in the modern sense of an old fashioned word, he was saint”(Auden 4), references that the government labels it...

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... Instead of using stanzas the author uses rhyme schemes that help create flow throughout the poem. For example, lines 8 and 13, show responsability by the citizen, who can still manage to have a satisfactory time with his friends.
Furthermore, Auden uses allusion in "the unknown citizen". Allusion is the indirect reference to a commonly known source. Auden presents an example of allusion to George OrWells "1984" a book that revolves around a restraining society. Just like in the novel, a constant delineation of power keeps watchful eyes on its citizens. throughout the book "1984", an everlasting theme concers the personality of a quintessential person. Big brother administers surveillance on the society, though the figure in the poem remains anonymous. the same specifications apply. "Yet he wasnt a scab or odd in his views" (Auden 9) supports the everlasting theme.

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