A Small Insight #1

".... therefore I exist."

       Although I have already posted my weekly blog post for this week, I have just finished my analysis of a poem for my English class that perfectly fits the topics we discussed this Friday, while you were gone. We had talked about the saying "I am perceived therefore I exist", comparing this belief with Descartes "I think therefore I exist". The latter claims that one exists when he has the ability to think. However, the prior presents the position that one needs the acknowledgement of the people around him in order to truly confirm one's existence. This belief is explored in the poem "The Unknown Citizen" written by W.H. Auden. 

Much disillusionment spreads following World War II. Many individuals are outraged by the government’s lack of concern for those who suffered. The people cannot return to their normal lives, as if the war has not taken place, as the government expects. People are affected by the detached manner they are treated by the government, as they are not recognized for their efforts nor compensated individually. These feelings are reflected in the poem “The Unknown Citizen” by W.H. Auden. The poet captures the disillusionment of the people as he describes the life of an average individual, the story of all average individuals according to the government. The poet uses satire to convey his outrage and cynicism, as he tries to bring about a change in the government’s attitude toward the people.

Throughout the poem, Auden keeps emphasizing that the life of this individual was ideal and pleased authorities. According to the “Bureau of Statistics”, “Public Opinion” and other governmental organizations, this man has done no wrong, pays his taxes, and lives a gregarious life. By noting that the man “served the Greater Community”, the poet suggests the man lived his life to please society, not necessarily for his sake. The poet implies that every individual’s life was led according to government norms as he claims that this man had “the right number [of children] for a parent of his generation”. Even the man’s family seems to be planned out by the calculating government, the government that is solely concerned with setting a society that appears to be ideal. Auden criticizes the government’s materialistic concerns as he focuses on the material necessities of the citizen. He does not delve into specifics, does not reveal the personality or aspects that are unique to the individual. Employing a mock-matter-of-factly tone, the poet emphasizes the fact that the government does not consider its citizens separately, solely looking at the general idea presented by statistics and governmental studies.

Auden points out that the citizens are not care for by the government, that they are anonymous, and that they will not be remembered. Auden describes the life of the “unknown citizen” using the pronoun “he”, emphasizing the impersonal attitude with which the citizen is addressed. The reader never feels as if he clearly understood or met the citizen, as he is always referred to as a “he”. Furthermore, this drives home the idea that this story, this state, of anonymity can be applied to any individual, including the reader himself. It has the effect of appalling the reader, forcing him to ask himself whether he wants to remain in the life of an unremembered citizen. It initiates the reader in bringing about a change in the government’s attitude, as the poet desires.

Auden outlines his poem in a manner that presents all the “positive” aspects of the citizen’s life. The reader is subtly led to question the pleasantness of this life, not finding this life enviable. The last two lines of the poem reveal the motivation of the poet, as he asks the reader to question the desirability of the life of this citizen. The reader is left wondering what the meaning of his life is to others, feeling appalled by the possibility that his existence is not acknowledged. The poet’s sarcasm is apparent in the last line, as Auden writes that “had anything been wrong [with the citizen’s life], we should certainly have heard”. The reader realizes that his individual opinion will not be heard or considered, because he is inexistent in the eyes of the government.

“The Unknown Citizen” is a powerful poem that conveys the disillusionment among the people after World War II as they realize their voices were not heard. The government does not care much about their suffering. No one thinks about the people as individuals. Each individual leads his life and silently, anonymously leaves the world upon his death. The reader is left pondering whether he will be taken care of, whether he actually exists in others’ eyes.

       What do you think? What is your position in this context? Though Auden presents a compact position, and that I concede to some of his claims, I am inclined to agree with Descartes. Of course, it is pleasant to have others acknowledge my presence. Of course, another's recognition of me confirms that I exist, that I am perceived, that I am taken into consideration. However, I have my willpower. I have my choices, my decisions, my actions. I have confidence in myself, and I am able to hold up to who I am without others. This was also the message of the book "Man's Search for Meaning" by Frankl. A man can be robbed of everything except his power to choose. Ultimately, each one of us will have our choices and our decisions. This fact confirms that I exist, even though it may not be apparent from others' actions to me.