“He was found by the Bureau of Statistics to be
One against whom there was no official complaint,
And all the reports on his conduct agree
That, in the modern sense of an old-fashioned word, he was a saint.”
The passage provided is from the poem "The Unknown Citizen" by W.H. Auden. It is a satirical and critical commentary on modern society and the way individuals are reduced to statistics and conformity. Let's examine the passage in the context of the poem:
In this passage, the speaker is describing the subject of the poem, the "Unknown Citizen," who is portrayed as a typical, average citizen of a modern, bureaucratic society. Here's a breakdown of the lines:
1. "He was found by the Bureau of Statistics to be": This line introduces the idea that the Bureau of Statistics has investigated and documented information about this individual. The speaker is emphasizing the bureaucratic and data-driven nature of modern society.
2. "One against whom there was no official complaint": The Bureau of Statistics found no record of any official complaint or wrongdoing against the Unknown Citizen. In other words, he didn't break any laws or cause any trouble according to official records.
3. "And all the reports on his conduct agree": This line suggests that there were multiple reports or assessments of the Unknown Citizen's behavior and character.
4. "That, in the modern sense of an old-fashioned word, he was a saint": Here, the speaker uses irony and sarcasm. The "modern sense of an old-fashioned word" implies that the term "saint" is no longer used in its traditional, religious sense but has been redefined to fit the standards of a conformist, bureaucratic society. In this society, being a "saint" means being a completely unremarkable and obedient citizen who doesn't disrupt the established order.
In the context of the entire poem, "The Unknown Citizen" is a critique of the dehumanizing and conformist tendencies of modern society. The speaker portrays the Unknown Citizen as someone who has lost his individuality and humanity in the eyes of the state and society. He is considered a model citizen because he conforms to all the expectations and norms of his time, but in doing so, he has become a mere statistic, stripped of his uniqueness and vitality.
The passage highlights how a person can be reduced to a set of data points and official records in a highly regulated and bureaucratic society, and how the concept of being a "saint" has been redefined to mean conformity and obedience rather than moral or spiritual excellence.
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