February Poet – Wystan Hugh Auden
Analysis of The Unknown Citizen
The poem features rime groups that display like areas of content. The subtitle of the poem dramatizes the nameless, therefore, characterless position of the “individual”; he is assigned a combination of letters and numbers: “JS/07 M 378”—the initials of the common name “John Smith,” “M” gender, the numbers place “JS” in the brick wall of bureaucracy.
Ironically, this concocted character is not an “individual” at all. And, of course, the “marble monument” was “erected by the State.” Both the title and the subtitle drip with irony. The appellation “unknown citizen” echoes “unknown soldier” whose remains could not be identified but who service was honored. T.U.C. is well known by the State, but there is absolutely no reason for the State to erect a marble monument to him.
“He was found by the Bureau of Statistics to be”
The speaker is a bureaucrat who introduces T.U.C. by reporting that the Bureau of Statistics had no “official complaint” against this “unknown citizen.” T.U.C. functioned perfectly during his life and “served the Greater Community.” Such a willing tax-paying citizen fits the Bidenist definition of a “patriotic citizen” who favors the Obamaist “spreading the wealth around,” because “When you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody."
“Except for the War till the day he retired”
T.U.C. worked all of his life for “Fudge Motor Inc,” taking time off only to go do his patriotic duty during “the War.” He dutifully joined the union, paying his dues on time. According to “Social Psychology workers,” he had friends and took a social drink with them from time to time.
“The Press are convinced that he bought a paper every day”
He read his newspaper daily and appropriately responded to “advertisements.” Apparently, he wrote no nasty editorials denouncing policies, journalistic, governmental, or social.
“Policies taken out in his name prove that he was fully insured”
He maintained proper amounts of insurance including health, was admitted to the hospital once but “left it cured.”
“Both Producers Research and High-Grade Living declare”
He acquired all of the modern conveniences, “a phonograph, a radio, a car and a frigidaire.” This information was ascertained from survey companies who research such things to help businesses know what people want to purchase.
“Our researchers into Public Opinion are content”
According to “researched into Public Opinion,” T.U.C. held “the proper opinions for the time of year.” He accepted peace when “there was peace,” and he went to war when war broke out, as had been reported earlier.
“He was married and added five children to the population”
The “Eugenist” reports that he and his wife produced the proper number of children and never “interfered with their education.”
“Was he free? Was he happy? The question is absurd”
After describing an unthinking, unfeeling “individual,” the questions of freedom and happiness represent the height of folly. But then the final comment twists the logic. If T.U.C. had perceived anything wrong in his life, he would have complained, and thus “we should certainly have heard.”
Commentary
W. H. Auden wrote this poem after immigrating to the United States in 1939, during the implementation of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal legislation. The poet perceived the effect of socialism on American society, which had been the land of individualism, individual opportunity, a place where one could speak one’s mind and develop one’s character. America was trending toward a socialistic, homogenization that threatened the frontier, self-made character, making the individual into a cog in a bureaucratic wheel.
W. H. Auden
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