We Wear The Mask Analysis
Dunbar’s We Wear the Mask addresses the faults of humanity and the intersectional themes of race, society and class within the poem. The “mask” within this piece is symbolic of the ways in which society structures and organizes individuals to conform to societal standards. To support this theory - Dunbar uses the American Dream and slavery to remind his readers “we” wore the mask back then and “we” still wear the mask to this day. The immediate action of wearing a mask signifies suppression of one’s true self, and the mask - represents weakness and fear. This fear and concern towards survival within society relates to an individual trying to achieve wealth and status in America – in order words, the American dream. Dunbar shines light on
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this subject while pointing out how people change with and for society and “wear the mask that grins and lies” to assimilate to our norms. Dunbar states, “with torn and bleeding hearts we smile.” In this line, the reader can clearly see how those who are trying to conform to societal norms choose to wear a mask because they are emotionally unstable and lack confidence. Furthermore, it is important to note, Dunbar decides to intersect an internal organ with an external facial feature. Perhaps the heart represents an individual’s true feelings and the fake “smile” is nothing but a pleasant facial gesture to appease and/or prove he/she cannot be broken. To survive and achieve the American dream, Dunbar believes society indirectly controls what “we” say and do to appear as if everything is well and get through the day. For instance, he states how we have “ a mouth with myriad subtleties.” This line refers to the abundant amount of faces, phrases and emotions we may pretend to have in order to relate with others. Additionally, these “myriad subsidies” may refer to the behavior and communication methods slaves used to avoid offending their master. Dunbar included this line to alert the reader that deceitfulness becomes so engrained within their culture that it is now their norm. In short, Dunbar believes the concept of the American dream is nothing but a strategic tactic in order to conform individuals to what we believe would fit into our societal norms. Dunbar shines light on what it was and what it can mean to be black in a white dominated society. These men and women were forced to have two personalities and two identities in order to survive. In many ways, Dunbar leads us to believe wearing a mask was and is the only way to survive. For instance he states “We wear the mask…/It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes.” Here, the cheeks and eyes represent one’s identity and the mask covering them signifies their attempt to hide their true self to others. Therefore, blacks living in a white dominated community have two identities. To support this claim, W.E.B Du Bois once stated in the Atlantic Monthly article “One ever feels his two-ness,–an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder.” Here, Du Bois is referring to double consciousness - the duality of personalities in which blacks had to learn very quickly in order to out smart and live amongst whites. In other words, according to Du Bois, black slaves lived “looking at one’s self through the eyes of others.” Living under the pressures of society forced them to change and stripped them of their identity.
Paying close attention to the literary techniques Dunbar decides to use within the poem – the reader must question the repetition, alliteration, hyperbole and the rhetorical questions within the poem.
The line “We wear the mask” is an alliteration that is repeated three times within Dunbar’s piece. The repetition of similar sounds throughout the poem reminds the reader that the mask is never taken off. Through each struggle and every heartache – the mask remains in tact as it covers the face. Additionally, the following rhetorical question should also be classifies as a hyperbole. Dunbar states “Why should the world be over-wise, / In counting all our tears and sighs?” The world cannot literally count all of their tears and sighs and it is impossible for the world to truly be “over-wise.” In the first line, “over-wise” is referring to the world imposing on others beliefs. In many ways this line proves that society initially feels powerful – therefore, they see the need to change others. Meanwhile, blacks need a mask to make themselves seem and feel powerful. These literary devices are used to remind the reader that things may not be as they seem. Dunbar discretely places these devices to catch our attention and pull us towards what he believes is true. Similar to society – Dunbar tries to make his readers realize society manipulates and structures individuals to abide by societal
norms.
In many ways, today – we exemplify the mask being worn within our society. Throughout our lives we’ve unknowingly acted a certain way and said things to please others for their approval. Similar to those trying to achieve the American dream and blacks living in a white dominated society – society as manipulated our lives and has forced us to reinvent ourselves.
this subject while pointing out how people change with and for society and “wear the mask that grins and lies” to assimilate to our norms. Dunbar states, “with torn and bleeding hearts we smile.” In this line, the reader can clearly see how those who are trying to conform to societal norms choose to wear a mask because they are emotionally unstable and lack confidence. Furthermore, it is important to note, Dunbar decides to intersect an internal organ with an external facial feature. Perhaps the heart represents an individual’s true feelings and the fake “smile” is nothing but a pleasant facial gesture to appease and/or prove he/she cannot be broken. To survive and achieve the American dream, Dunbar believes society indirectly controls what “we” say and do to appear as if everything is well and get through the day. For instance, he states how we have “ a mouth with myriad subtleties.” This line refers to the abundant amount of faces, phrases and emotions we may pretend to have in order to relate with others. Additionally, these “myriad subsidies” may refer to the behavior and communication methods slaves used to avoid offending their master. Dunbar included this line to alert the reader that deceitfulness becomes so engrained within their culture that it is now their norm. In short, Dunbar believes the concept of the American dream is nothing but a strategic tactic in order to conform individuals to what we believe would fit into our societal norms. Dunbar shines light on what it was and what it can mean to be black in a white dominated society. These men and women were forced to have two personalities and two identities in order to survive. In many ways, Dunbar leads us to believe wearing a mask was and is the only way to survive. For instance he states “We wear the mask…/It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes.” Here, the cheeks and eyes represent one’s identity and the mask covering them signifies their attempt to hide their true self to others. Therefore, blacks living in a white dominated community have two identities. To support this claim, W.E.B Du Bois once stated in the Atlantic Monthly article “One ever feels his two-ness,–an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder.” Here, Du Bois is referring to double consciousness - the duality of personalities in which blacks had to learn very quickly in order to out smart and live amongst whites. In other words, according to Du Bois, black slaves lived “looking at one’s self through the eyes of others.” Living under the pressures of society forced them to change and stripped them of their identity.
Paying close attention to the literary techniques Dunbar decides to use within the poem – the reader must question the repetition, alliteration, hyperbole and the rhetorical questions within the poem.
The line “We wear the mask” is an alliteration that is repeated three times within Dunbar’s piece. The repetition of similar sounds throughout the poem reminds the reader that the mask is never taken off. Through each struggle and every heartache – the mask remains in tact as it covers the face. Additionally, the following rhetorical question should also be classifies as a hyperbole. Dunbar states “Why should the world be over-wise, / In counting all our tears and sighs?” The world cannot literally count all of their tears and sighs and it is impossible for the world to truly be “over-wise.” In the first line, “over-wise” is referring to the world imposing on others beliefs. In many ways this line proves that society initially feels powerful – therefore, they see the need to change others. Meanwhile, blacks need a mask to make themselves seem and feel powerful. These literary devices are used to remind the reader that things may not be as they seem. Dunbar discretely places these devices to catch our attention and pull us towards what he believes is true. Similar to society – Dunbar tries to make his readers realize society manipulates and structures individuals to abide by societal
norms.
In many ways, today – we exemplify the mask being worn within our society. Throughout our lives we’ve unknowingly acted a certain way and said things to please others for their approval. Similar to those trying to achieve the American dream and blacks living in a white dominated society – society as manipulated our lives and has forced us to reinvent ourselves.