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Segmentarity in W.H. Auden's The Unknown Citizen
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Abstract
Wystan Hugh Auden, an Anglo-American poet, was regarded as one of the greatest writers of the 20th century. His diverse and influential body of work spans various genres and themes, reflecting the complexities and nuances of modern life. Among his notable contributions is the satirical poem The Unknown Citizen, which poignantly critiques the reduction of individuals to mere numbers and data under the pervasive surveillance of authorities. This poem serves as a profound commentary on the dehumanizing effects of bureaucratic systems and the loss of individual identity in the face of societal conformity. In this essay, we will delve deeper into the themes presented in Auden’s The Unknown Citizen by employing the theoretical frameworks of Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari, particularly their conceptions of segmentarity, lines of flight, and related ideas as elaborated in their co-authored work A Thousand Plateaus: Capitalism and Schizophrenia. Through this lens, we aim to explore how individuals are systematically segmented and monitored in modern society. We will analyze the mechanisms through which societal structures impose rigid segmentarity on individuals, effectively stripping them of their unique identities. Furthermore, we will investigate the potential for individuals to break free from these constraints, utilizing lines of flight to escape rigid societal structures and reclaim their self-identities. This interdisciplinary approach will provide a nuanced understanding of the interplay between societal control and personal autonomy in contemporary contexts.
Keywords
W.H. Auden, The Unknown Citizen, Gilles Deleuze, Félix Guattari, Segmentarity
[1]. Auden, Wystan Hugh. "The unknown citizen." English Literature (1939): 14
[2]. Deleuze, Gilles and Guattari, Felix. "A thousand plateaus: Capitalism and schizophrenia." Trans. by Massumi, B.)., University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (1987).
[3]. Patton, Paul. Deleuze and the Political. Routledge, 2002.
[4]. Deleuze, Gilles. Difference and Repetition. Columbia University Press, 1994.
Cite this article
Zhang,Y. (2024).Segmentarity in W.H. Auden's The Unknown Citizen.Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,62,75-80.
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Volume title: Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Education Innovation and Philosophical Inquiries
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