If you are referring to The Unknown Citizen by W.H. Auden, the state identifies the unknown citizen by the state-allocated letters and numbers, JS/07 M 378, on his marble monument.
Interestingly, the subtitle states that the unknown citizen's marble tomb has been erected by the state. As marble is expensive, we may surmise that this unknown citizen must have distinguished himself in some way when he was alive. Indeed, as the poem explains,...
If you are referring to The Unknown Citizen by W.H. Auden, the state identifies the unknown citizen by the state-allocated letters and numbers, JS/07 M 378, on his marble monument.
Interestingly, the subtitle states that the unknown citizen's marble tomb has been erected by the state. As marble is expensive, we may surmise that this unknown citizen must have distinguished himself in some way when he was alive. Indeed, as the poem explains, this unknown citizen was the perfect resident. He lived for the 'Greater Community,' purchased life and health insurance according to law, delighted his employers with his work ethic, satisfied social psychologists with his social prowess, held politically correct beliefs during his life, and had the requisite number of children for a man of his station. When he lived, he even purchased every home appliance the modern man should have possessed, on installment plans, of course.
Unfortunately, for all the trouble he took to endear himself to his government, the state only remembers him with a marble monument in the event of his death; he doesn't even have a name, and all traces of individuality have been erased from history. The unknown citizen has become a sad caricature of true humanity.
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