"We Wear the Mask" is a powerful poem written by Paul Laurence Dunbar in the late 19th century. The poem speaks to the experience of African Americans at the time, who were forced to hide their true feelings and emotions behind a mask in order to survive in a racist society.
The poem begins with the line "We wear the mask that grins and lies," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is telling us that they have to put on a false smile and pretend everything is okay, even when it is not. The use of the word "mask" suggests that there is something being hidden, and the phrase "grins and lies" suggests that this mask is not just a physical object, but also a way of behaving and communicating that is not genuine.
The second line of the poem, "It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes," expands on this idea by describing how the mask covers up the speaker's true emotions. The phrase "hides our cheeks" could refer to hiding tears or sadness, while "shades our eyes" could refer to hiding the pain or anger that might be present in the speaker's gaze. This line also suggests that the mask is not just a superficial cover, but something that affects the speaker's entire being, covering up their face and their eyes, which are often seen as the windows to the soul.
The third line, "This debt we pay to human guile," reveals the reason why the speaker must wear the mask. They are in debt to "human guile," or the deceit and cunning of others. This could refer to the way that African Americans were treated by white people, who often used their power and privilege to manipulate and exploit them. The speaker is saying that they are forced to wear the mask in order to survive in a society that is hostile and unfair to them.
The fourth line, "With torn and bleeding hearts we smile," is perhaps the most poignant line in the poem. It shows the emotional toll that wearing the mask takes on the speaker. Despite their pain and suffering, they are still forced to smile and pretend everything is okay. The phrase "torn and bleeding hearts" suggests that the speaker's heart is literally torn and bleeding from the effort of pretending to be something they are not.
The final line of the poem, "And mouth with myriad subtleties," is a bit more enigmatic. It could be interpreted as saying that the mask allows the speaker to be more subtle and nuanced in their communication, as they are able to hide their true feelings and intentions. Alternatively, it could be seen as a criticism of the mask, as it allows the speaker to be manipulative and deceive others.
Overall, "We Wear the Mask" is a poignant and powerful poem that speaks to the experience of African Americans at the time, and to the struggles of any group that is forced to hide their true selves in order to survive in a hostile society. It is a reminder of the strength and resilience of the human spirit, and the lengths we will go to in order to protect ourselves and those we love.
