Discuss how (include techniques author uses to prove) the poem - Book Report/Review Example

Poem & Novel Comparison Poem & Novel Comparison Aldous Huxley and W. H. Auden were the greatest writers of their time. They had similar life events. As a matter of fact, both the writers left England for America, when Second World War was averred. Interestingly, both of them were ardent supporter of Pacifism. With the rise of Adolf Hitler, the writers were overwhelmed by the feeling of pacifism through a metamorphosis that the whole Europe experienced during that era. Till their death they remained attached with their philosophy of pacifism.

In both brave new world and the unknown citizen, the writers have imagined a concept of a society deprived of liberty, freedom and individuality. Both Aldous Huxley’s ‘Brave New World’ and W. H. Auden’s ‘the Unknown Citizen’, propagates theme of authority and coercion that the state maintains to its people. These oppressive authorities tend to control the citizen not only physically but also mentally. The Unknown citizen introduces a person who is loyal and had served the community.

He also holds only the views instilled by the states from time to time.4. Thus, in view of society and the state he lived a purposeful life and performed his duty to his best. Thus, he fulfills the requirement to be called a good citizen in his dystopian society, a society where social coercion is much more to. The poet uses satire in last lines and dubs his life as a happy life. Through this poem, the poet expresses his views that idea of happiness is not about living and serving in servility.

It also includes the courage and strength not to conform in front of servile majority.The brave new world describes an ideal society of future. In this ‘ideal society’ the individuals are ‘happy consumers’. They citizens in this ideal society is created through illicit use of modern technology like genetic engineering and society flooded with lust of sex and drugs in search of happiness. For this control and tyranny the novel ‘Brave New World’ also holds society responsible. Let us look at the following quotation taken from the chapter number fifth of the novel.

It gives the idea to the readers that it is ironic that people are afraid of changes because they believe that if change will occur then the stability of the society will be majorly threatened. The statement “We don’t want change. Every change is menace to stability” depicts the society’s response to change. “Every one works for every one else. We can’t do without any one. Even Epsilons are useful. We couldn’t do without Epsilons. Every one works for every one else. We can’t do without any one . . .. (Chapter 5)”Similar notions can also be found in the poem of Unknown citizen.

“This Marble MonumentIs erected by the State (epigraph)”. From the above analysis if the quotation, it becomes quiet evident that the authority remains powerful that rule the citizens. Herein, one can notice the distinction between the institutions in terms of identity. The worlds like satisfied, content, and sensible alludes to the sense of stability of the society and lack of willingness to any change. Poem’s repetition of the world ‘never’ strongly emphasizes the Unknown citizen to evade from his ethical duty.

Unknown citizen is a citizen of an oppressive bureaucratic state who is controlled through a bureaucratic system where rights of expression of thoughts are strictly monitored and curbed. Unknown citizen in Auden’s poem is projected as an ideal citizen. Bernard Marx the only unhappy fellow of this society wants to get free from this coercive ambience (Adams, 1993). The following line taken from the poem clearly marks a point of view of identity as it states, “He was found by the Bureau of Statistics to be One against whom there was no official complaint, (lines 1-2)”.

From the analysis of the both poems it can be determined that the stanzas are controlled due to which they are less expressive. Both the authors have made use of satire and irony to portray the condition of the citizens in the society. ReferencesAdams, R. M. (1993). The Relevance of Brave New World. London: Scarecrow Press.