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Need analysis of Paul Lawrence Dunbar's We where the mask
Posted by: Gregory115 (192.168.128.---)
Date: February 10, 2022 05:10PM
We Wear the Mask
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.
We smile, but oh great Christ, our cries
To Thee from tortured souls arise.
We sing, but oh the clay is vile
Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
But let the world dream otherwise,
We wear the mask!
I don't really understand it so any help is appreciated!
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.
We smile, but oh great Christ, our cries
To Thee from tortured souls arise.
We sing, but oh the clay is vile
Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
But let the world dream otherwise,
We wear the mask!
I don't really understand it so any help is appreciated!
Re: Need analysis of Paul Lawrence Dunbar's We where the mask
Posted by: Linda (192.168.128.---)
Date: February 10, 2022 06:23PM
He's saying that people (everyone, or just some?) put on a pretence (mask) of being happy and everythings fine, when in reality they're down right miserable. But he finishes by saying that's the way they want it.
Re: Need analysis of Paul Lawrence Dunbar's We where the mask
Posted by: Gregory115 (192.168.128.---)
Date: February 11, 2022 10:17AM
thank you!
Re: Need analysis of Paul Lawrence Dunbar's We where the mask
Posted by: lg (Moderator)
Date: February 12, 2022 01:12PM
It's important to realize that Dunbar was a black man writing about people who had to hide their true intentions to stay alive.
Les
Les
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