Unknown Citizen - 1356 Words

Themes of W.H. Audens The Unknown Citizen Conformity and Anonymity in the Modern World Social Security Number? Birth date? Nine digit telephone number starting with area code? Mothers Maiden Name? In many ways, we are simply faceless numbers to modern society, not individuals with feelings and emotions and dreams. W.H. Auden, a well-known English poet and dramatist, discusses this important theme in his poem An Unknown Soldier. Auden, being a modernist, is concerned with this modern idea of people losing their identities in the face of the changing, technological world. In the poem An Unknown Soldier, Auden speaks of the dangers of modern society to the individual including anonymity, conformity, and government control. The†¦show more content†¦Was he happy? The question is absurd: Had anything been wrong we should certainly have heard (Auden).† This question is still being asked today, the only difference now is that there is no doubt whether or not the opinions of the masses are being heard. The question remaining is whether or not the government is actually listening to the people. This poem also expresses that government makes it seem that every one else is doing the â€Å"right thing†, so you must follow in their footsteps and if you do so your reward is a happy and fulfilled life with all the comforts of the modern man. The standards are constantly changing so that you will never reach the optimum point, therefore you must always strive to improve. This can be seen in the 2000 Presidential Race. We the people have followed the same uniform procedures in determining our presidents since the founding of our country, yet we are now being told these standards are â€Å"outdated† and â€Å"unreliable†, which in turns breaks down our faith and the faith of other countries in our political system. Auden expresses a similar opinion in his poem. He presents the idea of the good society, at best a possibility, yet never actually achievable, but one in which we the people must always work towards. As citizens, we know the obligations of our citizenship, however it often times is the officials we tend to elect that forget their obligations to us. Is this idea not clearly being seen currently in the attempt to electShow MoreRelatedThe Unknown Citizen Explication Essay999 Words   |  4 PagesWerner 05 March 2012 The Unknown Citizen By W. H. Auden Several conflicts are dramatized in The Unknown Citizen, the most prominent being: conformity of the middle class, government manipulation, and the loss of individualism to the standards of an average citizen. The speaker of this poem is non-traditional as the poem is, in fact, an inscription on a â€Å"marble monument erected by the State.† The inscription is dedicated to a â€Å"JS/07 M 378†Ã¢â‚¬â€presumably, â€Å"The Unknown Citizen,† although this term onlyRead More The Unknown CItizen by W.H. Auden Essay731 Words   |  3 Pagesâ€Å"The Unknown Citizen†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"The Unknown Citizen† by W.H. Auden, is a commentary on government and the materialism of modern man. The poem is written in the form of an obituary inscribed on a monument built by the government in commemoration of an average, upstanding, and decent community member. Throughout the passage, the speaker lists facts about the citizen’s life which he believes prove that the deceased was a valuable person. In actuality these facts represent nothing more than the sociallyRead MoreWystan Hugh Audens The Unknown Citizen1633 Words   |  7 Pagesand socially, garnering the attention of its citizens as well as the attention of citizens of other foreign countries. One of those individuals was renowned English poet, Wystan Hugh Auden (W.H Auden). Born in York, England in 1907, he moved to the United States in 1939 shortly before the start of World War 2 and became an American citizen (â€Å"Auden†, pars. 1, 16). Not long after his initial move, A uden wrote and published his poem â€Å"The Unknown Citizen†   while living in New York city. Unlike the scholarlyRead MoreThe Unknown Citizen Essay525 Words   |  3 PagesThe Unknown Citizen In The Unknown Citizen, Auden is implying that people are statistics and easily conformed to the normality of society. Throughout the poem, Auden portrays the character as being an all around normal citizen and one against whom there was no official complaint. In lines 4 and 5, the speaker describes the character as a saint and for in everything he did he served the Greater Community. He served in war, never got fired from his job, popular with his mates, andRead MorePoem Analysis: The Unknown Citizen Essay977 Words   |  4 Pagesthose who actually never do anything. However, the Unknown Citizen has a monument built as a symbol of his perfection. Thus, Audens The Unknown Citizen shows how the government makes each individual merely a number unless they do not conform to societys norms. The monument of the unknown citizen is erected not to honor the memory of a man, but to show how he is the perfect example of a good citizen (Auden). In this poem, the citizen is just an average person who never stands out amongRead More The Unknown Citizen by W.H. Auden Essay815 Words   |  4 PagesThe Unknown Citizen by W.H. Auden The Poem â€Å"The Unknown Citizen† by W.H. Auden is a satire. Its narrator is the state. In this, the state pays tribute and describes a successful and positive product of its efficiency and effectiveness. In other words, it builds the character later described to the reader as â€Å"the perfect citizen.† The narrator speaks as if he is delivering a speech or common tribute using words and phrases that are familiar to the reader. Using such imagery Read MoreAn Analysis Of The Unknown Citizen By F. H. Auden2316 Words   |  10 Pagesto them without any complaints. Each of the three literary writings has a character that is considered rebellious within the norms of society. A rebellious person is someone who does not follow the rules that are given to them. The poem â€Å"The Unknown Citizen† by W. H. Auden is mainly about an unnamed man who is a conformist, because he listens to all the rules that are made for the society. On the other hand, the short story â€Å"A P† by John Updike and the play â€Å"Antigone† by Sophocles there is a conformistRead MoreAudens The Unknown Citizen and Michies Dooley is a Traitor983 Words   |  4 Pagesas symbolic characters, symbolism, and irony, to simplify the understanding of who this â€Å"satirical target† is. In â€Å"The Unknown Citizen† by W. H. Auden and James Michie’s â€Å"Dooley Is a Traitor,† symbolic characters, symbolism, and irony are all used to indirectly criticize the target of each satirical work. In â€Å"The Unknown Citizen,† Auden is criticizing the way average citizens live their daily life. In this satire, JS/07/M/378 is dead and is being praised by the state in a eulogy. In a typical eulogyRead More Analysis of The Unknown Citizen by W.H. Auden Essay examples1464 Words   |  6 PagesAnalysis of The Unknown Citizen by W.H. Auden â€Å"The Unknown Citizen†, written by W.H. Auden during 1940, is a poem where the speaker, a representative of the state or government, directs a speech to the audience about a monument being erected for a citizen. Written in free verse, although using many couplets, this poem is a poem that describes the life of a certain person through his records and documents. This citizen is portrayed as a normal and average human being who is being honouredRead MoreThe Unknown Citizen By F. H. Auden, A P2256 Words   |  10 PagesIn the three literary works that were chosen, â€Å"The Known Citizen† by W. H. Auden, â€Å"A P† by John Updike, and â€Å"Antigone† by Sophocles has a theme that is known to be conformity and rebellious. The poem â€Å"The Unknown Citizen† is mainly about the unknown man who is a conformist because he listens to all the rules that are made for the society. On the other hand, the short story â€Å"A P† has a conformist character who enforces the rules for the supermarket and a rebellious character who goes against the

William Shakespeare s Macbeth - 1032 Words

All people are capable on deciding their own fate. One way of altering your own life is simply by making smart moves to change the outcome of life. In addition, we all know it requires great amount of work for a good output. The effort of being driven and not giving up no matter what life might bring-forth. Also, the strength to remain a virtuous person throughout many challenges faced. Are positive attributes that’s hard to keep up with in our daily life. This presents fate as being a strong piece of work, which is why it’s extremely important to make wise decisions. Decisions people make has an impact to self and to society. Macbeth is a prime example of a man who chose the wrong path, as a result, it effected himself and the land of Scotland. He took forth action in the darkest way to become King of Scotland, which cost him his life and destroyed lands. The surge of energy from evil caused him to go through the stages of insanity, proving to the audience that evil comes from poor decision that was based off Macbeth’s emotions. The choices people make have an effect on nature, which can result in massive destruction towards God’s work, self, and society. Macbeth decided to believe in the prophecy that was told by the evil witches, despite the fact of that leading to the destruction of God’s good work. The rebellious act first started off when he heard the words of possibility out of the mouth of the serpents. Then, Macbeth stirred up some thoughts against the King,Show MoreRelatedWilliam Shakespeare s Macbeth 1363 Words   |  6 PagesMacbeth is without a doubt one of the most captivating plays, in my opinion written by William Shakespeare. Throughout this play there is definitely a numerous amount of things that can catch your attention, whether it is a trio of witches appearing, committing murder, or keeping secrets. However, what really catches my attention is the way Shakespeare uses language and unique style to create a distinct mood, and reveal characters’ inner thoughts. In the play Macbeth written by William ShakespeareRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Macbeth 884 Words   |  4 PagesMacbeth Summary - Act 5 Scenes 1 - 9 Written by Josh, Corey, Sinead, Phoebe and Mason Phoebe Scene 1: So the first scene begins with a physician overseeing Lady Macbeth sleepwalking and muttering to herself while rubbing her hands, trying to remove the imaginary blood. ‘Here’s the smell of the blood still: all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.’ (Act 5 Scene 1 Lines 11-12) This line is important as it represents Lady Macbeth at war with herself and shows she will never moveRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Macbeth 1652 Words   |  7 PagesMacbeth is one of William Shakespeare s most famous tragedies, it is believed to have been written and first performed in 1606. Sources indicate that the play was written to appease King James I, who had ascended to the throne after Queen Elizabeth I. The play tells a tale of a brave Scottish Thane named Macbeth, whose thirst for power brought him to murder Duncan, the King of Scotland, only to become a tyrant, and have his actions lead to his eventual demise as the tragic hero. Throughout the playRead More William Shakespeare s Macbeth 1289 Words   |  6 Pages 2015 Macbeth Literary Essay In this 16th century, classic play about a man hungry for power by William Shakespeare there are many intense instances of symbolism used to demonstrate and prove Macbeth’s feelings and behaviour throughout the book. Good symbolism makes you feel what the character feels when reading a story. In the story, â€Å"Macbeth†, Macbeth is shown to be a sly and deceiving person who betrayed his kingdom for his own gain. Three important symbols used to show Macbeth s greed andRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Macbeth 1129 Words   |  5 PagesWindsor 02/10/16 Macbeth William Shakespeare wrote one of best tragedies in english literature, which was titled Macbeth. The tragedy, as it is considered by critics of yesterday s literary world, frown upon the evil dimension of conflict, offering a dark and atmosphere of a world dominated by the powers of darkness. Macbeth, more so than any of Shakespeare s other tragic protagonists, has to face the powers and decide: should he give in or should he resist? Macbeth understands theRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Macbeth 1909 Words   |  8 PagesKing James’ court, none more so than William Shakespeare, who was writing some of his best plays in that time. The most well known of Shakespeare’s plays produced in the Jacobean Era was Macbeth. Macbeth tells the tale of Macbeth, a thane of Scotland, and his descent to madness. One of the characters of this play, Banquo, was also a prominent lord in Scotland, a lord King James believed he was descended from. It seems evident in that in t he play, Shakespeare used his portrayal of Banquo to flatterRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Macbeth Essay1406 Words   |  6 PagesMacbeth Essay Since the beginning of time people looked up to the stars asking Gods their fate. Fate is a belief, that there is a set path for an event that is both unavoidable and inevitable, that there is a fixed natural order to the cosmos. In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, viewers can observe fate or (prophecy) playing a major role. William Shakespeare was born April 1564 and died May 1616, during his life Shakespeare wrote 37 plays, and 157 sonnets, Shakespeare is also knownRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Macbeth Draft1040 Words   |  5 PagesStuart Wodzro Honours English 9, Block 2 Shakespeare Essay February 26, 2016 MacBeth Draft No. 3 The strive for power is a human impulse, perhaps even a primitive compulsion. And, in the case of human beings at least, the impulse is not restricted solely to the necessities of life. Beings are devoted to gaining raw power itself and, through it, they loses themselves. As one may know, the lust for power is a mode of selfishness, where at one attempts to gratify every passion, but alas pleonexiaRead MoreAnalysis Of William Shakespeare s Macbeth 1887 Words   |  8 Pagesdisaster. â€Å"Macbeth’’ is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare and is considered one of his darkest and most powerful works. William Shakespeare was born in Stratford -upon -avon, in Warwickshire and was baptized a few days later on 26 April 1566. William Shakespeare was educated at the local King Edward grammar school Stratford and is considered by many to be the greatest playwright of all time.(Bio.) In Macbeth, William Shakespeare used ambition to show us Lady Macbeth and Macbeth and t heirRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Macbeth Essay1827 Words   |  8 PagesEnglish IV DE/AP 24 January 2016 Macbeth Research Paper Although William Shakespeare is not historically accurate with his play Macbeth, there are many possible reasons as to why his historical interpretation differs from reality. He may have wished to flatter the king and, when taken into historical context, may have wished to warn others of the fate handed to those who would oppose the king. Although there are many differences between the play and history, Shakespeare remains truthful in some aspects

Looking for Footprints in the Sand free essay sample

For over a year now, Ive been on a journey. The purpose for my quest is to find my faith in God, and ultimately myself, filling a void Ive carried with me for too long. This journey has challenged me intellectually, emotionally, spiritually and, at times, physically. Ever since my Great Grandma Fran passed away last February, Ive been carrying a burden. I thought soon after that the burden was my need to have a stronger faith in there being a place for someone as good as her to travel to after death. After thirteen months, and six months in R.C.I.A. (a program to either introduce or renovate the Catholic faith in the lives of adults), to contemplate, I still have my burden. The difference is that now I have taken to dissecting it, examining every cavity and deciphering what every little fragment means, that way I can make a stronger effort to learn about each of them. We will write a custom essay sample on Looking for Footprints in the Sand or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Most of the conclusions that Ive been drawing have come from the retreat that I went on with my R.C.I.A. group: an experience of a lifetime. Contrary to my usual thirst for knowledge, I had yet to put forth all of the necessary effort to get to know God or learn how to pray, but on that two-day outing I armed myself with a pen and notebook. I took time to stop and listen to every melodic drop of rain against my window pane, every song of the crickets and frogs in the neighboring trees, and every question that I had previously locked away in the depths of my mind and heart because they had come before at times which I wasnt willing or able to explore them. I thought about this and how odd it was for me to act that way. I am such an analytical person, but on the subject of faith and religion (two separate entities, Ive concluded) I am either intimidated or aggravated to such a degree where I am troubled with further questioning. I felt like I mustve been missing something from the others in the group. Granted the other people are at much different places in their lives, whether they be getting married, married with four children, just lost their spouse, or more, I felt like they were impacted harder than I was. Was there a switch that someone forgot to flip? Was I meant to hear God? Did I already have faith, but was misinterpreting it for something else? Goodness did I have questions. My experience with developing my faith has been a rocky road with a gorgeous view along the way. Ive not yet reached my destination, but I will be forever mindful that every now and then I may need to make a pit stop to pick-up tools -unlocking that safe- so that I when I do reach my roads end, Ill be ready.

By focusing on street crime/violence, the media gaze ignores the crimes of more powerful groups in society Essay Example Essay Example

By focusing on street crime/violence, the media gaze ignores the crimes of more powerful groups in society Essay Example Paper By focusing on street crime/violence, the media gaze ignores the crimes of more powerful groups in society Essay Introduction In order to discuss the above proposition, with reference to crimes such as domestic violence and child abuse, I shall need to investigate several themes and discourses ; essentially the term ‘dangerousness’ and why, when we focus on a particular site of crime, do we marginalize other potential sites? I will also be looking at how we define the more powerful groups in society; what is perceived as ‘real’ crime and does family violence/abuse fall within these parameters. Does the media focus on street crime and violence, ensuring that the ‘crimes of the powerful’ stay out of the public’s vision, and if so, why? The issues surrounding crime, the powerful and, indeed offences within the home are contested and complex. To enable us to look at why the media ignores crimes of the more powerful members of society, I will consider the feminist view of conjugal violence and child abuse, then touch upon the area of corporate crime, in order to exhu me the hidden crimes of the powerful. Thus, showing crime can, and does, occur at every level of society, regardless of status, race, age or gender; whether it is acknowledged or not. A basic definition of crime, as described by Tappan, is ‘Black Letter Law’; an act punishable by law; it is at the states discretion to label those who are deviant (Tappan, 1947, p100). People of a prominent rank within the state are empowered to be able to determine who and what are criminalised; further more they are capable of deciding who are classed as ‘the powerful’ members of society. In this instance, we can assume these powerful members of society to be, politicians, law makers, agents of social control (etc. ), who control what is deemed right or wrong. a crime has only been committed if the law states so. By focusing on street crime/violence, the media gaze ignores the crimes of more powerful groups in society Essay Body Paragraphs ‘Modern’ ideas regarding crime came in the early nineteenth century, with the growth of cities and urbanization; although seen as progression, it was also deemed a site of danger, where crime and disorder was common. The theme of ‘dangerousness’, not only covers places, but also people. It sets certain members of society apart from others; they were known as, ‘the dangerous classes’, ‘the underclass’ or ‘social residuum’, as described by Murray, ‘These poor people didn’t lack just money. They were defined by their behaviour,’ (Murray, Criminological Perspectives, p127). Images of the ‘dangerous classes’ were projected to the public, where they were considered to be a threat to the moral, public and legal order of society; some of these perceptions are evident today. When we view crime in the city, through the theme of dangerousness, some types of crime are focused upon, while others are pushed into the background. The media and the public tend to concentrate on street crime; mugging or burglary, which is ‘visible’. In contrast, white collar or corporate crimes, such as fraud are ‘invisible’, even though they are a prominent characteristic of the city. As Box points out, ‘For too long too many people have been socialized to see crime and criminals through the eyes of the state,’ (Box, 1983, p281). There is a vast diversity in sites and types of criminal activity; ranging from inner city ‘slum’ areas to the boardroom and from drug use to fraud. It is the above mentioned dominant groups within society, who are authorized to deem a particular activity criminal or a site to be prone to these activities. Alongside this, they are also of a status where they can pass laws that safeguard ‘their own’. People in power not only have the ability to criminalize, they are also in a prime position to ‘hide†™ their crimes. The politically powerful can hide their offences, such as illegal arms-dealing, from the public, through ‘directing’ the media towards other areas of crime, as discussed in a previous assignment. The economic influential groups can conceal their misdemeanours, like fraud, behind regulations and multifaceted business laws. However, it is not only at this level of society that power exists; within the home there are micro relations of power; between partners and among the adults and children. These power relations can result in domestic violence crimes and child abuse never being discussed, reported to the police or punished by the law. The above examples imply that dominant conceptions of crime, especially those that repeatedly appeal to the media, are blurred by which crime is publicly detectable. It is telling, that until recently, domestic violence and corporate crime featured in few court cases. Dangerousness’ is not only a feature of city li fe; it also features within the home. A fact which has only recently been acknowledged and discussed, as public and political disquiet has lay elsewhere. Previously, ‘the family’ has been thought of as a private and secure sanctuary, where no state intervention was required, as stated by Blagg and Smith (1989), ‘. an image of a settled, harmonious, wholesome and orderly unit. without needing interference of the state and its army of functionaries to prop it up,’ (Blagg and Smith, 1989, p23). Unfortunately, this is not the case for many families and it was not until the end of the nineteenth Century and latter part of the twentieth Century that community anxieties arose. Before these times, there was an unmistakable division between public and private; an assault on the street was criminalized, but within a family, it was not. The feminist movement played a key role in bringing domestic violence to the forefront of public thought; prior to this, people did n ot wish to think of crime taking place within the home, as this challenged the image of the ‘ideal’ family. As Segal (1990) points out, ‘. it is startling to realize that rape and men’s violence towards women became a serious social and political issue only through feminist attention to them’, (Segal, 1990, p211). How are these types of crime defined, because if we take the ‘normal’ family discourse, some violence is seen as commonplace, whereas a welfare discourse would class it as abuse, rather than violence. Feminists were particularly critical of this view, as by dismissing family violence as ‘family problems’, the power relations of age and gender are neglected. There are many contested and complex theories on this matter, thus, it is impossible to give a clear cut definition regarding what constitutes as ‘crime within the home’. In contrast, the feminist discourse view domestic violence and child abuse as exploitation and manipulation of power. Mirlees-Black stated, ‘victims of domestic violence may not define their experiences as crimes,’ (Mirlees-Black et al. , 1998 p6). This is one of the reasons it is so difficult to obtain a true picture of these types of crime, as many see the violence as the ‘norm’. In 1999, statistics from the Home Office, showed that a quarter of violent crime occurred within the home, (Home Office and Cabinet Office Women’s Unit, 1999, Chapter 1, p2), but this is probably much higher due to the concealed environment of the family. Also, close relationships between household members make it difficult for victims to come forward. Sufferers may blame themselves or be too frightened to speak out, through fear of retaliation or not being believed; it may be that they are financially dependent on the perpetrator. All of these notions could prevent crimes within the home being reported to the police and consequently make it extreme ly difficult to gain accurate statistics regarding the level and number of these crimes. Even though surveys may produce more truthful figures, if the correct questions are not asked, we are again left with clouded information. According to Painter (1991), the figures of rape within marriage are much higher than sexual assaults ‘on the street’. The feminist discourse sees a connection between crimes within the home and how masculinities are formed. Men within the family are predominantly seen as the powerful members, with women being submissive. As Gordon explains, masculinity refers to, ‘The basis of wife beating is male dominance – not superior physical strength or violent temperament. but social economic, political and psychological power. ‘, (Gordon, 1989, p251). Domestic violence and child abuse is often seen as only affecting the ‘dangerous classes’, only occurring in a minority of ‘dysfunctional’ families; blaming it o n the stress of being unemployed leading to alcohol abuse or the woman provoking the situation. This view takes the spotlight away from the more powerful members of society (middle/upper classes), who may be just as likely to be harbouring crime within the home. We have seen how the powerful are able to manipulate what is portrayed in the media; the media are willing to comply as their focus is on subjects that will tantalize readers and it is them that play a significant role in our perception of crime and disorder. The public are more ‘comfortable’ with hearing about street crime and violence, than crimes within the home and they cannot visualize corporate crime, so perhaps think that it will not affect them. If crimes of the powerful cannot be seen, does this mean they are less ‘real’ or serious? In actual fact, it is the opposite that is true, as they gain more power and are more dangerous by not being clearly viewed. We have also seen how, through the theme of dangerousness, certain sites of crime are focused upon, while others which are as, if not more, serious, are pushed into the background. Similarly, people that are conceived to be from ‘the dangerous classes’, through misguided preconceptions, are seen to be more prone to criminal activity, than the members of the more powerful groups within society. Due to the media’s chief representation of violent crime and delinquency, crimes of the powerful are less obvious. Box summarizes this well, ‘ Maybe what is stuffed into our consciousness as the crime problem is in fact an illusion, a trick to deflect our attention away from other, even more serious crimes and victimizing behaviours, which objectively cause the vast bulk of avoidable death, injury and deprivation,’ (Box, Criminological Perspectives, p272-273). Examples of Box’s mystification can be seen by recent events that have occurred, such as, the Clapham Rail disaster or the sinking of the Marchioness boat. By the powerful not taking responsibility, the blame falls on to the powerless employees. Even though these incidents resulted in death, neither was believed to be real crimes. Box puts the reason behind this down to ‘ideological mystification’; low visibility of private working areas, results in negligence being pushed out of the public’s vision. Corporate crime is also conveniently well hidden from public view; through its complexity, criminal activities are hard to trace and haphazard regulations make it even easier for offences to go unnoticed. Combined with the ever increasing world of new technology, makes this task of uncovering offences almost impossible. However, although previously concealed, crimes within the home have now come much further to the forefront and have become recognised as such, mainly due to feminists disputing thoughts of the family being a private site; they have made domestic violence and child abuse visible and established them as criminal acts. That is not to say that these offences are easily defined, as they are not and the law has some way to go, before all criminals within the home are brought to justice. We will write a custom essay sample on By focusing on street crime/violence, the media gaze ignores the crimes of more powerful groups in society Essay Example specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on By focusing on street crime/violence, the media gaze ignores the crimes of more powerful groups in society Essay Example specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on By focusing on street crime/violence, the media gaze ignores the crimes of more powerful groups in society Essay Example specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer