He concludes by utilizing another sarcastic statement. He explains how “We smile” but no matter what the “cries” come out from “tortured souls.” They “arise” from behind the mask and into the real, knowable world. The poet says that as the world is seemingly blind to the traumatic conditions of the blacks, then let them continue to do so. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. His parents separated shortly after his birth, but Dunbar … Singing can only go on for so long on a world built on a “vile” structure. Dunbar was likely referring to the struggle to achieve equal rights, overcome segregation and racial violence. It uses its discretion to use its wisdom. The Meaning "We Wear the Mask" focuses mainly on the issue of racism faced by many African-Americans like the poet himself. The poet says that mankind is always in the tendency to conceal, to hide, and to create a notion that is utterly false. The title is self-explanatory in the sense that ‘we’ refers to mankind, thus suggesting that people wear masks. We wear the mask that grins and lies, It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,— The speaker opens with the title of the poem, so we know this idea of wearing masks is mighty important since we've heard it twice already (once in the title and now in line 1). Hearts are changed through tearing and mouths contain endless expressions. The word, ‘tortured souls’ proclaimed their state of deep suffering. They were conferred with the American citizenship after staying there for centuries. They in the true nature of deceiving are wearing a deceitful smile, hiding the extremely agonized heart behind it. Thus talking about wearing the mask yet again. The poem continues on to sarcastically ask why humankind should put out the effort to see behind the masks. Paul Laurence Dunbar’s famous poem, We Wear the Mask, is a sentimental and symbolic poem that refers to the times individuals hide behind masks for various reasons. I believe Mr Dunbar's parents were former slaves so it was vital to put on a happy face to survive. This poem shows great wisdom and insight on many levels especially given the time period that it was written. These lines are rhyming not only in recitation, but also in the communication of the message. Paul Laurence Dunbar writes these two very different in meaning poems. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The poem begins with the speaker stating that “We,” a reference to all of humankind, but specifically black Americans, put on masks. The speaker goes on to attribute the masks to being the product of “human guile.” In this context guile refers to a general deceitfulness. What's your thoughts? The poet says that the oppressed are paying a debt by wearing a mask and hiding their true feelings. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of We Wear the Mask by Paul Laurence Dunbar. The Afro-Americans were the slaves and therefore expected to be overtly respectful towards the former, failing which called for stern punishment. And Langston Hughes belonged to the Harlem Renaissance, the period characterized by the rebirth of the culture of the black, that aimed to uplift the race and gain equality. We provide informative and helpful articles about the newest fiction and nonfiction books on the market that you can come back to again and again when you have the urge for a new book to dig into. The mouth in this context is symbolic, and stands for the act of speaking. This poem perhaps was written in the light of the sufferings of the African blacks, but can we in the current times save ourselves from the shadows of such social paradoxes. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Paul Laurence Dunbar [1872-1906] was the first African-American poet to garner national critical acclaim. It’s easier to let the world know about happiness. The first stanza holds up the myriad feelings that humans feel simultaneously. It is also one’s own emotional or moral state that changes from situation to situation. Translation of 'We Wear the Mask' by Paul Laurence Dunbar from English to German Deutsch English Español Français Hungarian Italiano Nederlands Polski Português (Brasil) Română Svenska Türkçe Ελληνικά Български Русский Српски العربية 日本語 한국어 On one hand, we have "Douglass," which is a poem about Dunbar calling on to Frederick Douglass, a prominent figure in the freeing of the slaves, asking for him to come and save them … ‘Subtleties’ means the minute refined behavior or mannerisms or gestures that are shown to respectable people. A mask hides. We wear them and others use them to ignore the problems that exist in modern society. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. It is nearly impossible to get through modern life completely as ones self. It spoke for itself. On this note, it’s worth mentioning the case of the African slaves who were kept as bonded laborers and were treated lowly. The use of the word “counting” emphasizes this fact. Subscribe to our mailing list and get new poetry analysis updates straight to your inbox. The poem is structured in the form of a rondeau. Response on “We Wear the Mask” Paul Laurence Dunbar’s poem “We Wear the Mask” attempts to convey that all of humanity wears a mask for basic survival. They do ardently believe that it is Lord alone who can sympathize with them and make better their wretched conditions. We hope you are enjoying Penlighten! Yet, they are hiding their state behind that wry smile. After logging in you can close it and return to this page. “We Wear the Mask” was published by Paul Laurence Dunbar in 1895. It is also the line which later became the title of the poem. But at the end of the day, when they prayed to the Lord, they know that He alone can see their tears behind the smile. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Ha! Those tears resulted from deep anguish and distress they were subjected to. The fourth stanza of this piece is a quatrain, meaning it contains four lines. It hides the teary eyes and also the tears flowing from the cheeks. The slaves always wore a smile on their faces. Positivity and optimism can only last so long on a faulty foundation. The African slaves were granted freedom, following the bloody Civil War, which is remembered for the ghastly instances that occurred during the war. Having said all of these, the poet goes back to the initial phase, that is to keep wearing the mask of happiness and smile, so that the world doesn’t get a cue of their sufferings and believes that they are really happy people, which in reality is a complete antithesis of reality. Used with permission from Caged Bird Legacy, LLC. These cookies do not store any personal information. We wear the mask that grins and lies, It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,— These lines are rhyming not only in recitation, but also in the communication of the message. This does not mean the question lacks importance. We Wear the Mask essays are academic essays for citation. We may pose many different things to the world, but we can’t hide anything from the divine. This is truly an enthralling question which still seeks for an answer. Paul Laurence Dunbar, “We Wear the Mask” and W.E.B Dubois Soul of Black Folks December 9, 2014 / shannahbrown “We Wear the Mask” is one of Paul Laurence Dunbar’s most recognized works as it explores the complex emotions of being African American in a … The mechanism being a mask to hide the bitter truth from the already blindfolded world. Please support this website by adding us to your whitelist in your ad blocker. 6 Critically Acclaimed Female Authors You Should Read Before You Die, These Favorite Children’s Book Quotes Will Take You Back In Time, Good Fiction Books to Read: 3 Classics to Add to your Bookshelf, Classic Science Fiction Books: 3 Essentials to Read Now, Historical Fiction Picture Books: 3 Classics to Read Today, Best Non Fiction Books: 3 Modern Classics You Need to Read. ‘Debt’ and ‘guile’ are again two strong words that personify human action and deceit. So, essentially, it hides the truth. They fooled the world about their true feelings by smiling at all times. They tell the Lord about the hostilities they suffer from, because He is their lone confidant. This clearly indicates that the speaker should be regarded as representing a particular or special segment of society. This means that the world, their habitat itself is ugly. These symbols show the struggle that black Americans have to live with in society, and the hardships they face on a daily basis. Anyone living in the world can see that these things are present and deeply problematic, even if they are obscured by masks. Emma graduated from East Carolina University with a BA in English, minor in Creative Writing, BFA in Fine Art, and BA in Art Histories. Paul Laurence Dunbar’s poem “We Wear the Mask” is a well-known work that highlights his ability to create emotionally moving standard English poems. The stooped condition of the Afro-Americans of the time kindled his wits to pen down this wonderful poetry which upheld the multiple shades of human nature. Paul Laurence Dunbar’s poem, “We Wear The Mask” cleverly talks of the black condition in a language so universal that it could apply to any race of people that tries to hide their emotions from the world in order to survive. Please log in again. Paul Laurence Dunbar was an Afro-American poet who held humanity above all societal dogmas. Translation of 'We Wear the Mask' by Paul Laurence Dunbar from English to German (Version #2) There were so many occasions when poems and slogans were written to boost up the morale of the masses so that they could man against their oppressors and wage a war against them for attaining freedom. The final stanza of this piece contains six lines. We wear them and others use them to ignore the problems that exist in modern society. The meaning of the poem "Sympathy" by Paul Laurence Dunbar is that, as an African American man, the poet empathizes with the bird locked in a cage and the lack of freedom he feels as he views the outside world. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. It is so clear that we should take the time, but the world does not seem willing to. We Wear the Mask By Paul Laurence Dunbar About this Poet Paul Laurence Dunbar was born on June 27, 1872 to freed slaves from Kentucky. Let them rather see the ‘masked’ faces of the blacks where they are smiling and creating the notion that they are happy and merry. Such is the power of words. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Paul Laurence Dunbar, born in 1872 and the author of numerous collections of poetry and prose, was one of the first African American poets to gain national recognition. One is only able to overcome an unsteady and dangerous situation for a limited period of time. These lines begin with the speaker asking a rhetorical question. The poem “ We Wear the Mask” was written by Paul Laurence Dunbar .The poem is about the mask, humans wear to disguise pain, sadness, or turmoil when in the company of others. Born in Dayton, Ohio, Dunbar penned a large body of dialect poems, standard English poems, essays, novels and short stories before he died at the age of 33. Fahrenheit 451 Through the Lens of "We Wear the Mask" and "Barn Burning" Double Consciousness and the Harlem Renaissance They have a deep impact on our understanding of ourselves and others. The troubles of the world are so numerous they are too many to count. In the final lines the speaker explains that the “vile” clay stretches on far “Beneath our feet.” It lasts for miles on end. We Wear the Mask “We Wear the Mask” is a short poem written by Paul Laurence Dunbar in 1895. Paul Laurence Dunbar (June 27, 1872 – February 9, 1906) was an American poet, novelist, and playwright of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These are clear emotional expressions which are used here to represent the deepest of societal problems. They were no longer ‘slaves’, but were Afro-Americans. It is written in iambic tetrameter and has many symbols throughout its stanzas. Citations. Let’s take a closer look. Eyes tell the untold and cheeks let the tears flow. Paul Dunbar was one of the black artists of that time, who spoke with no fear about the status of African Americans in society. ‘We Wear the Mask’ by Paul Laurence Dunbar describes the way that “We” put on, and accept the presence of masks. They were left to their fate, unattended, left to suffer to the extreme, alone for centuries, with no one to cease the pain. Thank you! The poet ultimately conveys that since we cannot be true to ourselves we can’t expect the more from the world than lies. " We Wear the Mask" by Paul Laurence Dunbar is a 1895 poem about the act of concealing one's emotions from the rest of the world, as well as the cost of that concealment. We Wear the Mask meaning One’s mouth contains a smile but also a “myriad,” or a great variety of, “subtleties.”. ‘We Wear the Mask’ by Paul Laurence Dunbar is a three stanza poem which is separated into one set of five lines, one of four, and one of six. This means that the poet has affirmed the fact that mankind is double-faced. After all, there are an infinite number of instances where people put up facades to hide their true feelings or circumstances. We have to take into consideration the racism that dominated that era. The reason behind this is the human nature of deceiving others. The word ‘mile’ refers to the long stretches of time that still need to pass. Let’s read further. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. The login page will open in a new tab. This three-stanza poem is worth a million words, in its fashion to state the hardships of the Afro-Americans of his time. The tone used in the description is certainly sarcastic and melancholic. It sees only the things it wants to see. God is our Creator, He is our Savior. Every single person that visits PoemAnalysis.com has helped contribute, so thank you for your support. It describes the tragicomic double life black Americans were forced to live in … He does no expect to receive an answer. "We Wear the Mask" was written by African American poet and novelist Paul Laurence Dunbar in 1895. Literature is one of her greatest passions which she pursues through analysing poetry on Poem Analysis. The poem begins with the speaker stating that “We,” a reference to all of humankind, but specifically black Americans, put on masks. It is through advertising that we are able to contribute to charity. Please continue to help us support the fight against dementia. 'We Wear the Mask' happens to be one of the most critically appreciated poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar, and is studied in different educational domains. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site. He sets up a second contrast in the next lines with a comparison between the “sing[ing]” that “We” participate in and the ground on which “We” stand. The war is also responsible for bringing about the revolutionary freedom that was so sought for. The above quoted lines shed light on the fact that, the world doesn’t need to be told about the plight and misery of the slaves of that time. It very well used the concept of symbolic inferences, in its usage of the ‘mask’ as a symbol of scripted reality. Rather than the world taking a very small amount of time to consider the truth behind the mask, they “only see” the surface. We wear the mask that grins and lies, It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,--This debt we pay to human guile; With torn and bleeding hearts we smile. It becomes a strain on those who do not have to deal with them in their everyday lives. This Penlighten article summarizes and analyzes the poem in detail. But notice and care for them was far from truth. Ha! She liked to read his poetry to us when we were kids, including We Wear the Mask. The type of masks that “We” wear include “grins and lies.” One readily puts on another face for any particular situation. It is quite impactful at this point as no one should be willing to “dream” through the pain experienced by others. The changing times for betterment are yet to arrive that could liberate them from their agony. Victoria Thomas, of Saint Pauls High School, recites "We Wear the Mask" by Paul Laurence Dunbar. To a Captious Critic by Paul Laurence Dunbar, Harriet Beecher Stowe by Paul Laurence Dunbar. Born on June 27, 1872, Paul Laurence Dunbar was one of the first African American poets to gain national recognition. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. It chooses to remain blind to the most astounding of situations and still remain calm. That being said, Dunbar is well-known as a pioneer of the Harlem Renaissance. Our site includes quite a bit of content, so if you're having an issue finding what you're looking for, go on ahead and use that search feature there! The rhyme scheme of this piece is repetitive, oriented around a refrain. Both of Paul Laurence Dunbar’s parents were slaves, and he was born less than a decade after slavery became illegal. It’s an art to fake happiness at the times of hardship. Subscribe to our mailing list to get the latest and greatest poetry updates. 1. Fast forward to now, the words become even more relevant - we all have a mask of one kind or another. But, giving in to their conditions, they accepted things as they were without qualms. Like much of Dunbar's work, "We Wear the Mask" is a reaction to the experience of being black in America in the late 19th century, following the Civil War—a period when life seemed to have improved for black Americans yet in reality was still marked by intense racism and hardship. All people are among those who “wear mask[s].”. It also creates hype over trivialities and brags about it. And mouth with myriad subtleties,… Paul Laurence Dunbar is one of my mom’s favorite poets. This form is defined by having 10-15 lines and being organized into three stanzas. These masks hide someone’s real “cheeks and…eyes.” It puts one at distance from their surroundings. The opening stanza of the poem indicates th… In the first two lines of the third stanza, the poet amplifies this thought. In regards to meter, the lines follow a pattern of iambic tetrameter. It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—, In the first stanza of this piece the speaker begins by utilizing the refrain. “We Wear the Mask” was published in 1896. It poses a mask over reality. However, many critics think that this poem only applies to individuals who suffered from slavery. It veils the reality and creates an impression of something that is unreal in order to hide the reality. In other words, he kind of took a step back and looked at things in a less personal, less emotional way, making "We Wear the Mask" applicable to all sorts of people and circumstances. Related Content. Ha! The extreme pain that they felt needed no special mention. The mask that is posing ‘grins,’ it is uttering ‘lies’. It is posed to make one consider the state of the world and perhaps further the question themselves. Writing is one of the supreme modes of expression; perhaps, this is reason enough to proclaim that ‘a pen is mightier than the sword.’ It is a well-known fact that there are numerous pieces of write-ups in different forms which were influential enough to start several revolutionary movements in the past. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. But their trauma was hidden with a smile and lies behind the mask. In the final line the speaker brings back in the title of the poem, “We wear the mask.” This line is used as a reminder that not only are the troubles of the world obscured, they are purposefully hidden, at least to some extent. Ha! we wear the mask that grins and lies, it hides our cheeks and shades our eyes, This debt we pay to human guile;With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,And mouth with myriad subtleties.Why should the world be over-wise, In counting all our tears and sighs?Nay, let them only see us, while We wear the mask. In this fifteen-line poem, Dunbar points to the suffering of black individuals and the need to hold happy deminors in order to survive. We are mere puppets at the hands of the Almighty. Their standard of living was at par or even lower than that of animals. The trailing two lines of the second stanza are again self-explanatory. On a broader note, the poem states the impact of sufferings inflicted on the minority on grounds of racial divide. Dunbar wrote about what it was like to be African American during the late 1800s and the pain experienced by the black community. He mocks the world to remain blindfolded as the blacks suffer without a complaint, in silence and deceit. Lies, for when one needs to pretend to be something they aren’t, and grins for getting by in uncomfortable situations. Copyright © Penlighten & Buzzle.com, Inc. Hence, the poem highlights the mechanism adopted by the slaves to deal with their state of servitude. Join the conversation by. Ads are what helps us bring you premium content! Let’s understand the lines in the light of the Afro-Americans. The end sounds repeat throughout this piece, with the refrain, “We wear the mask” appearing at the end of the second and third stanza. The word ‘clay’ perhaps refers to the world, the earth, our home. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. 6789 Quail Hill Pkwy, Suite 211 Irvine CA 92603. The central theme of the poem is to speak about the turbulent times and the atrocities meted out to the blacks at the hands of the whites. He speaks about the plight of the … Dunbar uses the pronoun "we" to express the collective sufferings of the black people of his time. Dunbar uses “we” as a general […] Thus these lines hint towards the poet’s mocking intention. In such formidable conditions, they narrated poems and sang songs that could motivate them to bear that kind of inhuman treatment. “We Wear the Mask” is a rondeau, a verse form typical of medieval and Renaissance French poetry. This likely means that the “We” is geared more towards black Americans. We do as we have been destined to do. The whites deemed themselves respectable, and thus demanded respect. The mask is expanded from one’s face to their heart in the last two lines. Here the words that hold significance are ‘mouth’, ‘myriad’ and ‘subtleties’. ‘We Wear the Mask’ happens to be one of the most critically appreciated poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar, and is studied in different educational domains. Paul Laurence Dunbars We Wear the Mask combines salient features of verse essay and poetic meditation as it examines the need for a special kind of social dissembling in the world in which the author lived at the end of the nineteenth century. The word ‘myriad’ means many or infinite. It causes hearts to bleed and tear. In conclusion the speaker describes the unsteady foundation on which “We” sing. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. His parents Joshua and Matilda Murphy Dunbar were freed slaves from Kentucky. The magnitude of the sufferings was high. Not only these heroic acts were brought to pass, but there are legends stating how people used these rhymes, slogans, and poems to carry on tasks that were very demanding. Dunbar was one of the first to create a more objective perspective of what was going on in American culture. So, putting on a mask hides the eyes and the cheeks. We Wear the Mask Upon the first reading of “We Wear the Mask,” one is immediately convinced of the universality with which Paul Laurence Dunbar speaks of peoples’ hypocrisies. Both Sympathy and We Wear the Mask were written by Paul Laurence Dunbar. This means that each line contains four sets of two beats, or iambs. The only time the pattern changes is in the refrain which only contains two sets of beats. The sarcasm is not yet over! The lives of many Africans changed for they were elevated to a new level in the societal race. As mentioned in the previous section of this article, the African slaves used to sing songs and rhymes, just to keep the spirits high and carry on with their lives of destitute. The title itself is the opening line of the poem, and also forms the concluding line of the second and the third stanzas respectively. He is using the word “We” to allow the reader to include themselves in the text. The poet describes that these suffering slaves not only smile in pain but also sing. This poem is in the public domain. But let the world dream otherwise, We wear the mask! They were living in traumatic times. The world is selective about its vision. The poem presents readers with a speaker who speaks in first-person plural, as we and never simply I. This Penlighten article summarizes and analyzes the poem in detail. MayaAngelou.com. In “We Wear the Mask” and “Sympathy,” Paul Laurence Dunbar depicts the harmful effects of racism through the use of symbolism, violent imagery, and a gloomy mood to develop the theme that oppression by society causes a desire for freedom among minorities. Through this article we will attempt to comprehend the meaning of his much celebrated work, ‘We Wear The Mask’. The word ‘vile’ refers to something that is ugly and bad. The Language of the Black Condition and All Conditions: Paul Laurence Dunbar’s “We Wear the Mask” 984 Words | 4 Pages. Who Are The Most Romantic Literary Figures of All Time? Essays for We Wear the Mask. Ha! It's an amazing poem. They appeared content and satisfied with their state of slavery, with their fateful existence. Paul Laurence Dunbar used vivid, descriptive and symbolic language to portray images in his poetry of the senseless prejudices and racism that African Americans faced in America. Mask is an epitome of disguise, falsity, camouflage, and secrecy. Sarcastic towards the world’s indifference and melancholic about the sad state of affairs. The words ‘torn’ and ‘bleeding’ are referring to the ample pain that they are living every moment. Let them not see the true sufferings that they are living. They consist of an unstressed and stressed syllable. Now, to understand the reason behind the poet’s statement that mankind wears masks, we need to understand the poem line-by-line. It does not take much skill to take in the”tears and sighs” of the world. Sign up to receive the latest and greatest articles from our site automatically each week (give or take)...right to your inbox. He asks why the “world be over-wise” in its counting of “all our tears and sighs?” While this is a very serious question, it is clear the speaker finds something ironic about it. 1: Spoken-word poem adapted from “We Wear the Mask” by Paul Laurence Dunbar (1896). I understand their meaning, It could an did derive From living on the edge of death They kept my race alive By wearing the mask! ‘Face is the index of mind’, goes the saying. This is due to a general ignorance but also a choice. Throughout this essay I will discuss, describe and interpret Sympathy and We Wear the Mask. This is an overwhelming human trait. ‘We Wear the Mask’ by Paul Laurence Dunbar describes the way that “We” put on, and accept the presence of masks. In this case the pattern is, aabba aabc aabac. Reading . It begins with the speaker increasing the already dark nature of the piece. 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