Summary of The Unknown Citizen
In the poem,
the speaker, the unknown citizen has no name; he has only a number, to whom the
monument has been built. He was a saint not because he searched for God but
because he served the government perfectly. He did not get dismissed from his
job. He was a member of the Union and paid all his dues to the union. The
social psychology workers found that he was popular among his fellow workers.
He also bought a newspaper every day. He has normal views on advertisements.
He had good
health and although he went to the hospital once, he came out quite cured. The
citizen was sensible about buying things on an installment basis. He had
everything a modern man needed at home. When there was peace, he supported it.
But when there was war, he was ready to fight. He didn't hold his personal
views on anything. He had the right number of children and he did not interfere
them to get education.
In the end
of the poem, the poet asks two questions. Was he free? Was he happy? No
government statistics can ever answer these kinds of questions. Ironically, the
poet suggests that the modern man is slave to routine and he is incapable of
understanding of concepts freedom and happiness.
Thus, this
poem. "The Unknown Citizen" is a bitter attack on modern society. The
sub-title of the poem vividly shows that it is a memorial poem.
Question and Answers
1. Who is the "he" referred to in the first line? Why is he nameless? (पहिलो पंक्तिमा उल्लेख गरिएको "उनी" को हुन्? उनी किन नामविहीन छन्? )
Ans: He is referred to the unknown citizen in the first line. He contributed a lot for the sake of nation but his contribution is not counted by the nation. So, to satire the modern government, he is nameless.
2. What is the basic problem exposed in this poem?(4 उजागर गरिएको आधारभूत समस्या के हो ?)
Ans: The basic problem in the poem is that state controls over the average man that ignores the need for a man to be free and happy.
3. What is the modern sense of the word "saint"? ( आधुनिक अर्थ के हो?)
Ans: The modern sense of the word, "saint" not to search for God but to serve the government perfectly.
4. The poem lists several items necessary to modern man. Does the list give you a clue to the date of the poem's authorship? (कविताले आधुनिक मानिसलाई आवश्यक पर्ने धेरै वस्तुहरू सूचीबद्ध गर्द के यस सूचीले तपाईंलाई कविताको लेखकत्वको मितिको सुराग दिन्छ?)
Ans: The poem lists several items necessary to modern man such as
concept of Fudge Motors INC, Research and High-Grade Living
give us clue to the date of the poem's authorship. High Grade
Living was the name of insurance company of his time.
5.What is the meaning of the final line? (अन्तिम लाइनको अर्थ के हो?)
Ans: The meaning of the final line is to show gap of the freedom to the modern man in the industrial countries. At the end of the poem, the poet asks two questions. Was he free? Was he happy? No government statistics can ever answer these kinds of questions. By asking these questions, the poet is drawing our attention to the question of freedom and happiness. Ironically, the poet suggests that the modern man is slave to routine and he is incapable of understanding concepts of freedom and happiness.
6.Are the questions at the conclusion really "absurd"? ( निष्कर्षका प्रश्नहरू साँच्चै "बेतुकका छन्?)
Ans: Ironically, the poet suggests that the modern man is slave to time and he is incapable of understanding ideas of freedom and happiness. Therefore, such a question in this context would be 'absurd'. Thus, this poem is a bitter attack on modern society for its indifference towards individuality and identity. The only way for an individual to survive in a regimented society is to conform. obey and live in perpetual mental slavery.
7.What tendencies in our civilization does Auden satirize? ( सभ्यतामा अडेनले कस्तो प्रवृत्तिलाई व्यंग्य गर्छन्?)
Ans:
The poem is a satire of standardization at the expense of individualism. The poem is implicitly the work of a government agency at some point in the future when modern bureaucratizing trends have reached the point where citizens are known by arbitrary numbers and letters, not personal names.
8.This poem chronicles a life. How would it have to be changed to chronicle the life of a Nepali citizen? Make these changes in the poem. (यो कविताले जीवनको वर्णन गर्दछ नेपाली नागरिकको जीवनकाललाई कसरी परिमार्जन गर्नुपर्ला ? कवितामा यी परिवर्तनहरू गर्नुहोस् ।)
Ans: It is chronicle poem in which modern man's factual situation has been shown. In Nepal, many governmental job holders especially armies make great contribution to the nation. They forgetting their family members go to war and become martyr while fighting for the sake of nation. So, if they are killed, government should take responsibilities to support their family. If they are retired, government with giving much respect should provide them honourable job.
9.What do the concepts of freedom and happiness have to do with the person's life? How? Why? (N SERVIC व्यक्तिको जीवनसँग के सम्बन्ध राख्छ? कसरी र किन ?)
Ans:
The word freedom refers to the possibility that every person has to make decisions regarding their own lives, yet with certain limitations. We have the ability to choose from a variety of options but in the same time, we must not endanger the freedom of others. Absolute freedom shouldnot exist.
Freedom of thought, opinion, creativity and faith are fundamental. human rights which are found in the constitutions of numerous acts of international significance. Freedom in this context is not physical, but a spiritual creation, belief, thought and free manifestation.
Freedom of expression is one of the most debated issues in the recent years. The conflicts between civilizations are centred on the issue of the right of individuals to express their views and opinions. It is obvious that when people are allowed to freely express their ideas, their opinions will be various. At that time, we must be able to guarantee the coexistence of those opinions. Freedom of expression does not require following the opinion of the people, but we must give everybody the right to expose their ideas. When you know that you can choose then you are free. Freedom of speech does not mean saying anything, but to know that you can afford to say anything.
