Essay: Comparing "September 1, 1939", "Epitaph on a Tyrant" by W.H. Auden and "The Wall Jumper: A Berlin Story" by Peter Schneider

Our society relies upon the proper functioning and understanding of our societal structures – recognising that the people have the power to shape political ideologies and that the government has the platform of influence to shape cultural values and ideas. Such is the purpose of both W.H. Auden and Peter Schneider, particularly so in their respective texts of September 1, 1939, Epitaph on a Tyrant and The Wall Jumper: A Berlin Story. Auden shows through September 1, 1939 the idea that cultural values can shape individual thought and with Epitaph on a Tyrant Auden suggests that the complicity of the people allows tyrants to succeed. Schneider similarly comments on the effect of people on the government but also shows that the governments themselves have the power to shape and influence minds; one shapes the other.

Cultural values and the upbringing of an individual shapes their political and social views. Such an idea is explored by Auden in his poem September 1, 1939. Auden tries to reveal to the audience a differing opinion of the politics of WWII and how Hitler himself wasn’t just to blame but his upbringing and environment are to blame as well “what huge imago made a psychopathic god”. “Imago” suggests a process of development and “psychopathic god” has a sense of a lack of control. Auden comments that the upbringing has caused Hitler to believe and think in a particular way and that his thoughts have been influenced by his culture, emphasises by the use of the word “god” which has religious connotations – with religion having deep ties to culture. This is further seen with “all school children learn, that to whom evil is done, do evil in return”. The use of the word “school children”, which has connotations of elementary and basic understating emphasises the simple understating and point that Auden is trying to convey. Auden suggests that if a child is influenced and educated in a particular way, that they themselves will absorb and reflect this education. This Auden suggests, is how the culture and upbringing of people may have a large effects on the politics of the society.

Auden has a similar view of peoples influence on politics in Epitaph of a Tyrant. It is only through our complacency and complicity that tyrants rise into power. Such an idea is portrayed by Auden through “the poetry he invented was easy to understand”. “Poetry” does have a sense of manipulation and control, however the use of “easy to understand” is a critical comment on the complacency of society. Auden provides the notion that we hear only what we want to hear rather than the truth and as such, our lack of though allows tyrants to succeed into power. This is reflective of everyone in society and with Auden commenting on the state of politicians with “when he laughed, the respectable senators burst with laugher”. Burst has a double meaning, however Auden has used it to suggest a forcefulness in laughter in order to convey the complicity of the senators to the tyrant’s power. This is subverting the common notion that our representatives are supposed to be holding our interests over the interests of tyrants. Thus Auden suggests that our complacency and complicity, as well as those of our political representatives is what allows totalitarian control to occur and what allows tyrants to remain in power.

Schneider similarly reflects this influence and agency of the people in the Wall Jumper a Berlin Story. Schneider suggests that because the government is representative of the people it thus will reflects the beliefs, values and attitudes of those whom have put them into power “resemble their governments more than they care to admit”. By not stating a particular group of people or singling out an individual, Schneider thus suggests the idea that all humans of reflective of their governments and hence that we are all responsible for their actions. Schneider also suggests that the common notion of a disparity between Governments and their people are not completely true with “admit” suggesting it’s our ignorance to reality that has caused such a belief. This is emphasises with “a stranger would not know that he is entering a region where two political continents collide”. Through the characterisation of the continents as “political”, Schneider not only shows the differing opinions of the people between at the time but also shows that politics has superseded culture and that all aspects of society have now become political.

However, Schneider does admit that politicians and governments do have the ability to influence people and culture and this is because of the power and control that is given to them by the people. He states that people will remain loyal to “the states whose influence we no longer recognise”/ Schneider suggests that our ignorance of the power of the government is what allows them to control the citizens so easily but he also suggests a sense of manipulation through “influence” which has connotations of persuasion and propaganda. Schneider thus admits that governments also have the power to affect cultural values as well.

Auden and Schneider through their texts, respectively September 1, 1939, Epitaph on a Tyrant and The Wall Jumper: A Berlin story convey the idea of how people can influence politics and how politics can influence culture. Auden through September 1, 1939 trues to introduce a different perspective on political ideologies, suggesting that culture and upbringing has a large influence in the minds of people. In Epitaph on a Tyrant he warns of the complacency and complicity of the people and their political representatives. Schneider presents a more balanced view showing that the people have the power to pick their leaders and hence have influence in the political process and atmosphere but does also admit that the government has the power to influence and manipulate the political environment and the culture of its people.

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