The Unknown Citizen
The Poem "The Unknown Citizen" by W.H. Auden
is a satire. Its narrator is the state. In this, the state pays tribute and describes
a successful and positive product of its efficiency and effectiveness. In other
words, it builds the character later described to the reader as "the perfect
citizen." The narrator speaks as if he is delivering a speech or common tribute
using words and phrases that are familiar to the reader. Using such imagery
helps the reader paint a clear picture of the character. The subject or
character is illustrated as a hardworking, common, tax paying, proud to
be American citizen living in an obvious post Depression setting. The post
Depression setting is key, as the reader knows during that time bracket in
History, citizens went on the hunt for what was known as the "American
Dream." A driving force to recover and reinvent as well as the thirst to
prosper. The government (or state, as described earlier) by use of statistics
wanted to not only show, but also greatly embellish and make grand, its
effectiveness and success in its recovery and prosper. The narrator takes a
sincere yet ironically humorous approach in doing so. Humorous and ironic
because the reader knows that no such person exists as the "perfect citizen"
as described in this poem. It is found that the poem is set during the post
depression and post war period. Supported by the picture painted in the
minds of the audience by the speaker's content. In his content he mentions
words and phrases such as; (6) Except for the war til the day he retired" (6)
"He worked in a factory" (10) "For the Union reports that he paid his dues"
(24) "When there was peace, he was for peace; when there was war, he
went." The audience knows that the work in factories; formation, existence,
and belonging of unions; talk of war and peace; are all associated with the
post Depression/war era. By that we can define our setting and later on helps
us begin our characterization.
is a satire. Its narrator is the state. In this, the state pays tribute and describes
a successful and positive product of its efficiency and effectiveness. In other
words, it builds the character later described to the reader as "the perfect
citizen." The narrator speaks as if he is delivering a speech or common tribute
using words and phrases that are familiar to the reader. Using such imagery
helps the reader paint a clear picture of the character. The subject or
character is illustrated as a hardworking, common, tax paying, proud to
be American citizen living in an obvious post Depression setting. The post
Depression setting is key, as the reader knows during that time bracket in
History, citizens went on the hunt for what was known as the "American
Dream." A driving force to recover and reinvent as well as the thirst to
prosper. The government (or state, as described earlier) by use of statistics
wanted to not only show, but also greatly embellish and make grand, its
effectiveness and success in its recovery and prosper. The narrator takes a
sincere yet ironically humorous approach in doing so. Humorous and ironic
because the reader knows that no such person exists as the "perfect citizen"
as described in this poem. It is found that the poem is set during the post
depression and post war period. Supported by the picture painted in the
minds of the audience by the speaker's content. In his content he mentions
words and phrases such as; (6) Except for the war til the day he retired" (6)
"He worked in a factory" (10) "For the Union reports that he paid his dues"
(24) "When there was peace, he was for peace; when there was war, he
went." The audience knows that the work in factories; formation, existence,
and belonging of unions; talk of war and peace; are all associated with the
post Depression/war era. By that we can define our setting and later on helps
us begin our characterization.