We Wear the Mask (response)

We Wear the Mask

by Paul Laurence Dunbar

This poem takes on a perspective of facetiously supporting something the author clearly does not for the sake of creating a dry satire, almost a kind of reverse psychology.  Initially the points made by the poem are more agreeable, but as the poem progresses, the metaphor becomes more sinister.  Initially it draws the comparison between the human face and a mask that both “grins and lies”, giving it a less than pure nature.  Next It poses a question; “Why should the world be over-wise in counting all our tears and sighs?” and answers by saying the mask is a positive feature in that it hides our inner emotions and lets us present ourselves to others in a matter that we want to be seen.

Personally, I think the last stanza is the most interesting and provocative, and could easily stand alone without the clutter above it, though it creates many questions.  It directs the poem to Christ, saying (with really fun word play), that the world is profoundly unpleasant, but we should mask our emotions and make others believe what we want them to about us.

I’m not sure what Mr Dunbar’s view was regarding religion, but I think this poem makes an interesting commentary of it and the mentality it represents.  That a religious person, in the name of their savior, may choose to deny their desires, emotions, and true self to appear happy and fulfilled to those around them and think themselves righteous for doing so.