The Unknown Citizen is a deceased man whose life is summarized by various bureaucratic agencies. He worked steadily at Fudge Motors, Inc., paid his union dues, and owned standard modern conveniences like a radio and a car. He went to war when required, sought peace when expected, and fathered five children. His entire existence is defined by his perfect alignment with what the government expects of a citizen.

The State acts as the massive, totalitarian government controlling the society of the poem. It functions as a vast surveillance apparatus, utilizing departments like the Bureau of Statistics, Producers Research, and Public Opinion to track its citizens constantly. The entity values absolute conformity over individual freedom or happiness, considering questions about personal liberty to be absurd.

The Eugenist is a specialized worker employed by the State to evaluate the demographic and reproductive habits of the population. They review the Unknown Citizen's marriage and his five children. Following this review, they officially determine that he produced the correct number of offspring for someone of his generation.

The Social Psychology Workers are investigators employed by the State to monitor the psychological and social habits of the populace. They report that the Unknown Citizen was popular with his friends and enjoyed a drink. They also track how citizens respond to corporate marketing, confirming his reactions to advertisements were entirely normal.

The Teachers are educational figures within the State's system, tasked with instructing the younger generation. They report that the Unknown Citizen never interfered with their educational agendas, allowing them to teach his children without parental pushback.