Auden’s “The Unknown Citizen” is a poem that can be seen as a satirical elegy. It combines elements of satire and elegy to critique the dehumanization and conformity of modern society. The poem mourns the loss of individuality and celebrates a citizen who is reduced to a mere statistic, devoid of personal identity. Through its satirical tone, the poem highlights the ironic contrast between the government’s idealized vision of the “perfect” citizen and the reality of a life stripped of true meaning and individuality.
As a satirical elegy, the poet criticizes the dehumanization and conformity of modern society through satirical elements. The poem satirizes the government’s idealized vision of the “perfect” citizen by portraying the unknown citizen as a mere statistic, devoid of individuality. Here, the poet mourns the loss of individuality in the poem that institute the elegy and at the same criticises the government. For example, the poem sarcastically celebrates how the citizen had “everything necessary to the Modern Man” and was “normal in every way.” This highlights the dehumanization of reducing a person to mere checkboxes and societal expectations. The poem also satirizes conformity by emphasizing how the unknown citizen was “popular” and “liked a drink.” These examples showcase the poet’s critique of a society that values conformity over individuality and reduces human beings to impersonal statistics.
As a satirical elegy, it combines both irony and lamentation to critique the conformist and dehumanizing qualities of modern society. Through the use of various poetic techniques and unconventional structure, Auden effectively challenges the notion of an ideal citizen, highlighting the unfortunate reality of a society that values uniformity over individuality.
From the very beginning, Auden sets a tone of detached objectivity, instantly imbuing the poem with a satirical undercurrent. The title itself, “The Unknown Citizen,” already hints at the impersonal treatment of an individual who is simply reduced to a number, devoid of any personal identity or significance. This irony is further emphasized through the formal structure of the poem, written in rhyming couplets, typically associated with light-hearted and jovial verse. By choosing this structure for a subject matter of profound seriousness, Auden cleverly underscores the absurdity of reducing human existence to prescribed roles and societal expectations.
The poem follows a detailed account of the life of the unknown citizen, chronicling his various achievements and qualities in a cold and bureaucratic manner. Auden employs an objective and formal tone throughout, utilizing statistical language and official jargon to describe the citizen’s life. This deliberate choice of language serves to satirize the dehumanizing effects of a society that values conformity over individuality. The citizen is reduced to mere numbers and qualities that align with societal norms, such as being “normal in everything” and having “proper opinions.” Through this portrayal, Auden highlights the loss of personal identity and the erosion of unique human qualities in a society that prioritizes uniformity.
Furthermore, Auden deploys irony to critique the culture of consumerism and the empty pursuit of material success. The citizen is praised for his consistent consumption patterns, leading a life that is “free from wickedness” and having “everything necessary to the Modern Man.” The poem sarcastically celebrates the fact that the citizen never experienced the “congestion,” merely because he never had to wait in line for public transportation. This paradoxical celebration of insignificance further underscores the critique of a materialistic society that values superficial achievements and mindless conformity over meaningful human connections and individuality.
Auden’s use of allusion serves to further strengthen his satirical elegy. In the fourth stanza, the poet references the “advertisement for a new brand of toothpaste,” a clear allusion to the shallow and persuasive nature of modern propaganda. Auden suggests that the individual is manipulated and molded by societal pressures and consumerist culture, reducing one’s identity to a series of prescribed behaviors and preferences dictated by advertising and marketing.
While the elegiac nature of the poem is evident in its lamentation for the unknown citizen, the satirical elements reinforce the underlying critique of society’s failure to recognize and appreciate true individuality. The mournful tone emerges not just from the loss of an individual life, but from the loss of a society’s ability to value and honor distinctiveness.
In conclusion, W.H. Auden’s “The Unknown Citizen” can indeed be explored as a satirical elegy, blending irony and lamentation to criticize the conformist and dehumanizing qualities of modern society. Through the use of detached objectivity, official language, irony, allusion, and unconventional structure, Auden emphasizes the absurdity of a society that reduces individuals to anonymous figures, valuing conformity and material success over true individuality. The poem serves as a wake-up call, reminding readers of the importance of embracing and celebrating one’s unique qualities, and the dire consequences of a society that fails to do so.
