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| Sunday,13 November 2005 |
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A/L English Literature Made Easy - Poetry The Unknown Citizen - W. H. Auden (1907-1973) W. H. Auden (1907 - 1973) is a modern poet. He was a professor at Oxford University in 1956. The threat of the second World War in the 1930s created unpleasant efforts that disturbed the entire population of the countries subjected to the evil influence of war.
In The Unknown Citizen, Auden highlights the image of a citizen. A citizen being a person who has his rights and obligations and possessing the rights to be free and happy. The Unknown Citizen, In this poem is a person who is destined to follow a simple life style "Minding his own business". The sub title JS/07/M/378 highlights the fact that this citizen is only "A file number", to the state. He is unfortunate as to be devoid of even a name. He has only a File Number usually prisoners are called by numbers for a prisoner has "forfeited his rights as a citizen by committing a crime". The title of the poem suggests that a citizen is only a file number to the state. He was a person who had been free from "Official complaint and all the reports on his conduct agree that, in the modern sense of an old fashioned word he was a saint". Different organisations, government and non government had all the information about this citizen - he was honest in carrying out his duties. He was sociable. "He was popular with his mates and likes a drink" Even "The press are convinced that he bought a paper every day.". He was fully insured, healthy and possessed all the needs of modern man. He was able to adjust himself to face situations that arise. "When there was peace, he was for peace: when there was war he went." He had performed the duty of a parent by adding five children to the population. "He was married and added five children to the population, which our Augenist says was the right number for a parent of his generation". Teachers were satisfied with his conduct; but there's the question "was he free?. Was he happy?" This poem is rather satirical. Auden stresses the fact that the citizen is pushed to meet with political and social norms set down as a rule but nobody is interested in the freedom or happiness of the people. They are being thrown aside or ignored and concerned only about the ways that bring profit to the organisation or the state. Auden seems to banish this sort of attitude. In this poem, the poet portrays the man; the citizen of the modern state (He represented the common man). "He worked in a factory and never got fired.." Though the Government is created by the citizens to protect them, reserve their freedom and pave the way for a happy and contented Life style. Auden, in an ironic manner emphasises the fact that the modern states mould the man to serve them and answer their needs, paying the least attention to the freedom of the citizen. Auden's language style is simple though some what idiomatic and consists of the rhythm of the spoken language pattern. He was found by the Bureau of Statistics to be one against whom there was no official complaint, and all the reports on his conduct agree that in the modern sense of an old fashioned word he was a saint". The rhyme pattern is set in a manner so as to highlight the exalted qualities of the "unknown citizen." "saint", 'everyway', 'but left it cured', 'war he went', 'of his generation', 'education'. Auden has followed his own style of poetry, building up the image of the man 'The unknown citizen' in a very elegant manner. "no official complaints popular with his mates liked a drink bought a paper everyday was financially insured married and had five children" The image of the man resembles a special man who deserves a monument. "Our researchers into public opinion are content that he held the proper opinions for the time of year when there was peace, he was for peace when there was war he went". Auden's favourable attitude towards this man elevates him making him a distinct individual. There's simplicity in Auden's style of poetry though his poem "The Unknown Citizen" is in the form of a long verse consisting of twenty nine lines with slow rhythm creating the image of the man in a symbolic manner, the rhyme pattern effectively highlights the qualities of the man portrayed. Auden, being a creative writer was rather "radical and believed in the transformation of the traditional poetry" As a consequence of his ability to create suitable background for his ideas to crop up from. It is conspicuous that Auden's poetry embodies subtle humour. The marble monument erected by the state in remembrance of the Unknown Citizen, who hadn't even the right to possess the honour of a name. The words and phrases used by Auden communicate the procedure of the state touching the theme itself. The diction used by the poet was rather colloquial and the idioms touching the rhythm of the spoken language style. Auden has brought to the limelight a situation that already existed but none has cared to spot out - a statue erected; a lifeless figure of a man, after his death which hardly brings any importance to the Man after his death or to those who are alive. It's only a monument-a lifeless figure of a Man. Mrs. C. Ekanayake, Retd. Specialist Teacher, Eng. Lit., St. Anne's College, Kurunegala |
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Auden seems to be influenced by the psychology of Freud. He did not
approve of the unpleasant atmosphere left behind by industrial
development. He was amazed as to how man could find peace and contentment
when there was war, restlessness, clashes and to the darker perspective of
the people in the wartorn areas.
