Danielle Lim

R36

An Analysis on W.H. Audens The Unknown Citizen

1.25.12

W.H. Audens The Unknown Citizen: An Illusion of Individualism

The Unknown Citizen is about the story of a dead man who does not even have a name to
identify himself with. Instead, he is given a code, JS/07 M 378, as a way to be differentiated
from the rest. It is this same code that was also written in his epitaph. The speaker of the poem is
that of an outsider who knew about the man. He talks about the man in a manner filled with
praise and approval as if JS/07 M 378 was perfect.
The poem begins with the line, He was found by the Bureau of Statistics to be / one against
whom there was no official compliant. From this, readers can already deduce what kind of man
JS/07 M 378 was and what kind of society he lived in. Based from the line, it can be said that
all throughout his life the man did what was asked of him and what was approved by society.
Bureau of Statistics and official complaint implies a society, or perhaps, a form of
government, that keeps close tract and record of all its citizens actions, whether good or bad.
In the next three lines, it says that all the reports on his conduct agree / that, in a modern
sense of an old-fashioned word, he was a saint, / for in everything he did he served the Greater
Community. Again, there is still that emphasis on the man being a good citizen and on the kind
of power, the society he lived in or the government who ruled over him, had because of the
words, Greater Community. However this time, there is also an interplay of words and irony in
these lines. The use of modern sense and old-fashioned provides some sort of contradiction.
It is possible the poet used this kind of word play to show how strange it is to have a modern
man as obedient as a saint. It is said he did everything for his community but here is where the
actual irony lies. The man may have been obedient but his reasons for being so is not for the
Greater Community but himself. He is not really a saint because the only reason he is such a

good citizen is because he wants to be in societys good graces not because he wants to improve
the state of his community.
The next lines continue to put emphasis on how admirable this man is. He served in the war.
He was a good employee of Fudge Motors Inc.. The Union says he paid his dues. He was
friendly, popular, and sociable according to Social Psychology workers. He read the
newspaper, reacted to advertisements the normal way. Producers Research and High-grade
Living says he agreed to the Instalment Plan. Again, though he may seem obedient and
praise-worthy, the irony is that his reasons for such acts are actually for his own benefit. By
following all the rules and regulations imposed by all this government or societal institutions, he
was able to stay in their good graces and acquire everything necessary to the Modern Man, / a
phonograph, a radio, a car, and a frigidaire.
The other irony about this poem lies in the title itself. Why was he an unknown man? How
is someone supposedly so perfect and admirable not known? How does he not have a name for
himself? An identity? It is because by being too immersed in following the rules, conforming to
what society requires and agreeing with everything it promotes, the man loses himself. He loses
his own individualism. He, along with others like him, becomes an unknown citizen. Though
he may believe himself to be free, he truly is not. The speaker says the man held proper
opinions but it was in accordance to what society dictated so it wasnt really his own. He wasnt
really given any rights to stand for what he, himself, actually believed in. When there was
peace, he was for peace: when there was war, he went. Even the number of children he had was
not his choice. He had five children which the Eugenist says was the right number for a
parent of his generation. It is ironic how this man probably believed he was free since he was

permitted to have children but this is actually an illusion because society or the government
actually puts a limit to the number he can have.
The poem finally comes to an end with the last two lines. First, the speaker asks what he
believes to be rhetorical questions, Was he free? Was he happy? He answers this by saying that
the question is absurd because if there was anything wrong, he, along with the other members
of society would certainly have heard. There is once again an irony. The speaker believes the
mans life was perfect but it truly was not. This is where the actual poet, Auden, comes in and
begs to differ. There is the use of an ironic point of view wherein the speaker and poet differ in
tone. The speaker depicts a perfect society and its perfect citizens while the poet points out the
problems with this kind of utopia. The last two lines werent written to support the speaker. They
were there to be able to emphasize the point of the poet, the theme for this poem. The man and
the rest of the citizens in society were not actually free or happy. They may or may not have
realized it. The point is by being too compliant to the norms of society, they actually lose their
sense of freedom and true happiness. Their concept of happiness has been distorted to the point
that they believe societys happiness is their happiness. They dont really do anything for
themselves. They dont have their own opinions. It is truly sad and ironic how by devoting
themselves completely to the development of society, they lose their identity and own sense of
individualism.