The Unknown Citizen by Auden

"The Unknown Citizen" is a poem written most probably by the poet after visiting the Marble Monument. The speaker of this poem seems to be someone from the state committee or an official from the State. He is someone who works according to rules and regulations. He ensures that the unknown citizen obeys the rules, did everything in order. He sounds monotonous in describing the events and records of the unknown citizen. To the speaker, …

…citizen." Since everyone is the same, no one is known to us. This poem is a satire as it uses the view of a speaker who is speaking on the level of thinking that is opposite to the poet; creating the effect of criticism. Showing the opposite or incorrect sight of life in order to lead readers to think of the actual stand we should be on. Irony is the object used to create criticism.