Response 3, "The Unknown Citizen" by W.H. Auden

That, in the modern sense of an old-fashioned word, he was a saint…was he free? Was he happy? The question is absurd: Had anything been wrong, we should certainly have heard

Auden’s poem can be described as plain and detached from the actual individual that is being studied. All the gathered information about this person seems useless and insufficient to describe this citizen on a personal level as the reader comes to the end of the last stanza. Auden’s intention on this poem can be regarded as being on the negative side to this exemplary citizen. The end gives this away by questioning directly if this citizen was actually free and happy.  Auden’s notions, on the whole, attack the traditional methods that have shaped this society the citizen has lived in. Terms such as “freedom” and “happiness” do not come as main factors to conclude if this person had been a good citizen. Thus, Auden’s poem can be considered to have influence from the post-modernism movement as the poem challenges every traditional and expected norm that defines this built up society.

From the surface, the poem seems to be made up of normal observations that deal with political, economical, and scientific ideals this society uses to identify what is normal and accepted. But every factor the poem lists to support these important values, are destroyed by the ironic and stale language Auden assigns in the poem, as he throws back at the reader every belief and expected action this citizen has done all his life.  The listed actions and requisites the citizen has been good at following are placed in a rigid and static position leaving no space for actual choice or liberty. Likewise, Auden is able to bring doubt to each line after confirming that the citizen has followed everything he was expected to do, “where there was peace, he was for peace; when there was war, he went” (lines 23-24). It can be concluded that this society lacks real life and freedom, which is a very important point Auden is concentrated by bringing light upon the norms described in the poem. 

Following the guidelines of modernism, Auden is questioning these traditions that have become full cycles of endless repetition. Since the questions about the person being happy or free are not answered and are left in the air, Auden succeeds by revealing how little society has changed from the past. The poem also brings critique to the artificial illusion of believing on human progress in power and intellect, by portraying failure in the class structure the citizen has been influenced in order to fulfill the expected role. These notions bring about a sense of failure and disappointment Auden feels for his contemporary world, just as post-modernism. The need for social change is a must for this movement. Auden is very crafty in challenging the conformity in which society has situated itself, by portraying a citizen with no real character or personality that can shape and liberate him from old constrained traditions. Auden's inclusion of the word "modern" and "old-fashioned word" in the first stanza of the poem, reflects the centered issue post-modernism concentrates the most on; how social structure was still in loss.