Figurative Language In Paul Dunbar's They Wear The Mask

In Paul Dunbar’s We Wear The Mask he describes a social dissembling in the world. In this poem, we are introduced to the real mask being all of the lies and deceit. Which are racial issues? Dunbar’s use of metaphors, imagery, and rhyme gives the reader a better understanding. Also, the writer's use of figurative language brings this poem alive and offers the audience clarification. The poem opens with a metaphor, “We wear the mask that grins and lies.” Dunbar is comparing his smiles to all the surrounding lies. He is ashamed to the fact that he hides who he really is and simply puts a smile on his face to hide. Because the mask that “grins and lies’ is hiding unbearable misery and suffering. The reader can picture the mask hiding someone's features, this creates imagery. In line three the world guile is rhymed with a smile out of the following line. The writer mentions a torn and bleeding heart. In which this is figurative language that helps prove a point. In many cases, rhyming sounds familiar but not exactly the same. Therefore, in line five, the word subtleties rhyme with the first two lines.

The first line indicates that “the world” does not need to worry about the true sufferings and feelings but recognized them while they wear their mask. This creates the illusion that is beyond the dissembling of society but the sake of dishonesty and duplicity. Following this line is rhyme once again over wise and sighs. From the opening stanza of the poem, it presents a speaker who then one speaks in first person plural. The poem as a very indirect tone towards the audience. In this stanza, the writer also begins to develop a character. The characters being between us and them are becoming more developed. The term “we wear the mask” is not only the title of the poem but it is repeated throughout the stanzas three