Paul Dunbar's 'We Wear The Mask'

People disguise their feelings for various reasons; they tell small white lies to protect another's emotions or display false motivation to boost morale. Leaders, for example, may wish to spare their subordinates from undue stress because of the harmful effects and contagious spread of negative atmospheres. In extreme circumstances, false faces might even be used as a survival tactic to protect oneself from toxic authority. Dunbar never specifically mentions the source of distress in “We Wear the Mask,” but his establishment of a collective voice draws the audience into the poem and gives it enduring relevance. "We Wear the Mask" is a timeless and universal composition that applies to various human struggles.

Paul Dunbar’s “We Wear the Mask” illuminates people's ability to use deceit as a protective measure while experiencing extreme suffering. The mask symbolizes the outward display of calm and collected attitudes in relation to true internal torment. He presents the “debt we pay” (3) because of society's unsympathetic qualities or inability to understand other's burdens. Dubar sarcastically asks the rhetorical question “Why should the world be

over-wise,” (6) to set the audience in an environment with an ignorant or insensitive authority. His poem creates an empathy for those “tortured souls” (11) that have to “wear the mask” (15) and only have “Christ” (10) to hear their troubles. Since the group that must lie to survive has no worldly outlet for their suffering, they allow the authority figure to stay in their dream world because even if their “tears” (7) are realized, it would change nothing. Dunbar demonstrates how dissemblance is sometimes the only means to carry on in a hostile environment.
Paul Dunbar's “We Wear the Mask” presents vivid depictions of pain and suffering; however, he never specifically mentions the source of distress. False faces are used “With torn and bleeding hearts” (4) to carry on daily life. The reason for “bleeding hearts” (4) is never spoken of in the poem’s entirety leading to any variety of open-ended interpretations. Keeping the source of stress nonspecific engages the audience allowing them to fill in the back story with personal experiences. The lack of the source of pain is critical to the poem’s broad interpretation and applicability.
Paul Dunbar's use of a collective voice in “We Wear the Mask” transfers strong feelings of emotional hardship onto the audience.

This creates a powerful effect and a lasting impression. Dunbar specifically uses the term “We” (1) throughout the poem, making the audience included in the group that “hides our cheeks and shades our eyes” (2). Dunbar mentions facial features such as cheeks and eyes because these are the areas of the face show people's emotions; cheeks can show smiles or frowns, and the eyes can fill with tears to show pain. The ability to include the audience in the collective group experiencing the emotional trauma of whatever hardship they may undergo creates a personal attachment to the poem. This personal attachment from various different groups of people ensures its longevity and

applicability.
Paul Dunbar’s “We Wear the Mask” remains relevant today because of its ambiguous nature. The Constitution, for example, was written specifically to be able to adapt to new social or technological advancements. Changing times allow for new interpretation, and the purposeful exclusion of specific events or time periods makes the audience unable to determine the poem’s date of origin without investigation. This allows “We” (1) and “them (1) to be any current or future group from which one must hide or deceive another for self-preservation. Throughout the poem, the group that is putting up a facade of smiles carries on with their “torn and bleeding hearts” (4). The division comes between the choice to lie to oneself and the world or to let everyone see “all our tears” (7). Despite the personal view of showing strength or the belief in taking off the mask, the battle between the two applies to either perspective. The wide variety of interpretation and ability to resonate with either viewpoint makes Paul Dunbar's “We Wear the Mask” a timeless writing that remains relevant today.
Admittedly, a different conclusion could be drawn by using historical information on the author or an analysis of the time period. The racial climate of the nineteenth century was encompassed by hypocrisy and forced subjugation, so Black Americans created the illusion of contentment for self-preservation. The fact that Paul Dunbar was the son of former slaves and was born in 1872 shifts the interpretation of “We Wear the Mask” to Black Americans assuming the role of “we” (1) and “them” (1) referring to White America. Black Americans during the nineteenth century were expected to maintain certain formalities in white culture. Discompliance to these mandates could result in any form of backlash from verbal to physical mistreatment. Black Americans had no outlet to express their unfair treatment, and whether the White culture of the time was ignorant or unsympathetic did not matter. Ignorance of inequality and inaction in the sight of injustice was common; even “In counting all our tears and sighs” (7) crying would do nothing. This is the main reason for wearing the mask, to remain strong in adversity when one has no other options. This interpretation can be applied; however, even if the author's intent was to illuminate racial disparities in “We Wear the Mask,” its universality has given it the ability to fill any variety of issues. Dunbar's exclusion of specific details has given “We Wear the Mask” relevance to the masses.
As a society, we will always “wear the mask” for one reason or another (15). Some believe that they are stopping the perpetuation of ill feelings or developing a positive environment. Others may be emboldened through their mental toughness or simply use the mask as a survival tactic. Whatever it may be, "We Wear the Mask" is a timeless and universal composition that can apply to various human struggles. The poem” We Wear the Mask” has been and will continue to be a depiction of mental fortitude for all peoples and generations.