Analyzing Paul Laurence Dunbar's Poem They Wear The Mask

As individuals, we rarely desire for others to perceive us in the way that we perceive ourselves. We torture our every little imperfection, inside and out, until we are practically numb and cannot embrace compliments awarded to us by others. It is said that we are our own worst critics— never allowing ourselves any leeway. The poem “We Wear the Mask” by Paul Laurence Dunbar gives an accurate depiction of the facade we put on for the outside world; the facade is meant to cover up our true identity; the positive and negative aspects of our mind, body, and souls are hidden from the judgmental eyes of the world. Individuals who desire to remain a mystery to the world often have dark pasts or presents to hide— a dark past or present consisting

In the first stanza the speaker’s statement, “We wear the mask that grins and lies, / It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—” could be interpreted to mean makeup. This poem was written in the late 1800s, a time where women in America were just beginning to add makeup to their daily beauty routine. Makeup is a practical way women, or men, can hide blemishes they wish not to expose to the world; makeup allows for more confidence and leaves less room for others to judge our imperfections. The second way we can interpret the use of the word “mask” is to take it literally. Wearing a mask completely hides our faces from the world. We remain a mystery to the spectators, therefore shielding ourselves from impending judgement. Another way that we can interpret the use of the word mask is by assuming the speaker could simply mean a smile; a smile hides pain, anguish, anxiety, and any other unpleasant, personal feeling. A smile is also capable of disguising a person’s opinion in uncomfortable situations. While other interpretations are adequate, I believe the interpretations of the “mask” as a smile is the most fitting throughout the poem. The final stanza of “We Wear the Mask” does an excellent job of tying the entire poem together. The speaker concludes, “We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries / To thee from tortured souls arise. / We sing, but oh the clay is vile / Beneath our feet, and long

We all desire for others to perceive us in the best way possible. Therefore, either we strive to better ourselves internally and externally, or we put on a pretty face— a mask— to hide our imperfections as to attract and delight the world’s onlookers. This mask comes in many fashions; makeup, an actual physical mask, or a disingenuous smile all can be considered accurate interpretations of “the mask” in Dunbar’s poetic work. This facade allows us more confidence than we would typically have. However, what leads to a more profitable and fruitful life— a clear picture of who we truly are and being surrounded by people who accept us while assisting us in personal growth? or hiding our self-proclaimed deficiencies in order to be accepted by those who consider themselves immaculate, and also consider us lucky to be their