Unknown Citizen
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Elkanah Carnell Reed
Sis Ann
The Unknown Citizen
"The Unknown Citizen," is a poem by W.H. Auden that reflects a period of vast change in America's History. The Unknown Citizen is an example of the government's view of the perfect modern man in an ove , unrealistic society. It is a poem that still has relevance today.
During the time period in which this poem was written, in the late 1930's, the United States was going through tremendous social, political and economic change. Following the passing of Black Monday and at the onset of the Great Depression, many Americans held negative opinions of their government and the many positive aspects that once drew citizens to the United States were becoming increasingly negative. The Great Depression fundamentally changed the relationship between the government and its people. Citizens began to expect and accept a larger federal role in their lives and economy. During this time period, Americans were issued cards with personalized federal numbers, better known as Social Security cards, which turn in depersonalized the political system of the United States...