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Comment 13 of 23, added on November 13th, 2005 at 10:55 AM.
In my opinion, this poem reflects on how we all get engulfed in the consumer's race. This poem was written after Auden had moved to the US, and experienced the growing materialism. He questions wether we are getting more free and happy, as we consume more and more.
OMS from Norway
Comment 12 of 23, added on November 10th, 2005 at 5:16 AM.
Personally, I think it's about a man who has become a slave of his own reputation. He cannot change who he is because he is insecure. He fears that the people will not see him the same way if he does not live to their expectations. Yet, even though many admire him for being such, he cannot like himself. His true desires cannot be satisfied because his desire to keep his reputation is stronger. He realizes that he is a weakling and hates himself for it. But, to keep his reputation, he keeps every little complaint underneath the surface.
dR Gaerlan from Philippines
Comment 11 of 23, added on October 10th, 2005 at 3:43 AM.
'the unknown citizen' stereotypes everybody into a set of code which enables him to be tracked simply by referring to the numbers and..voila, all of the upside down of his entire life are open for the authority's observation. i think this poem expresses silent 'rebellion' against the preservation of man's life data as the government can have a total control over his life--no freedom at all. i agree with smith that this poem refers to the everage man back in time it was written, yet it occured to me how similar does it sound....
rabiatul adawiyah abu hanipah from Malaysia
Comment 10 of 23, added on June 24th, 2005 at 6:40 AM.
this citizen is unknown,actually he is known by everyone, because "he" is everybody.
samuel wing from China
Comment 9 of 23, added on June 6th, 2005 at 12:23 PM.
This is a poem about an ordinary amarican citizan.The poem opens-To Js/07/M/378....
Here Auden shows that to the state he is just a number in their statistics.This number he was given by the govenment is similar to a number given to a prisoner who is imprisoned in a state prison.The use of a number on the"Unknown Citizens" grave actualy answers the questions asker in the line before the last-
"Was he free?","Was he happy"
The unkown citizen felt that he was living a normal secure life but in truth he was under the controle and
manipulation of the govenment from ad's in the paper to political opinions.This is shown in the ironic last line of the poem-
"Had anything been wrong,we should certainly have heard."
Sudarshana Wijayasiri from Sri Lanka
Comment 8 of 23, added on May 10th, 2005 at 3:28 PM.
i really liked the poem, but think its very sad yet also very true how this man was mainly a statistic.to some he was special, but to the ones in charge (the government) he was nothing but a statistic. he led a good life and supported his country, but will still only be remembered as a statistic, a dot on the board along with many others who will never be recognized as anything more.
Allison from United States
Comment 7 of 23, added on April 6th, 2005 at 2:19 PM.
Suicide!
I think the poem is about someone who committed suicide! The questions we ask after the fact when we know someone who has committed suicide are similar to the poem.
Steve from United States
Comment 6 of 23, added on March 9th, 2005 at 6:25 AM.
Great Poem...Every Time I read it...I get a totally different perception of the poem. Auden's work is truely absorbing...I keep wondering what JS/07/M/378 means...
Sanchit Karve from India
Comment 5 of 23, added on February 7th, 2005 at 8:58 PM.
The poem is a ongoing reflection of every day people to a government. it opened my eyes to what "democracy" and "communist” and "socialist" govs. Have in common; they have in common what they wish to deny
Karla from Brazil
Comment 4 of 23, added on December 9th, 2004 at 10:56 AM.
The poem goes deeper than just conveying how people we or we not recognized at the time; Auden wanted to comment on the governement and its controlf over almost everything. He wanted to comment on how we are closer to socialism than ever before, and that it is like a hive: a bunch of mindless amotrons that make up a bigger entitiy.
yourn smith from United States
This poem has been commented on more than 10 times. Click below to see the other comments.
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In my opinion, this poem reflects on how we all get engulfed in the consumer's race. This poem was written after Auden had moved to the US, and experienced the growing materialism. He questions wether we are getting more free and happy, as we consume more and more.
OMS from Norway