Answered

Read the poem.
We Wear the Mask
by Paul Laurence Dunbar
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 overwise,
In counting all our tears and sighs?
Nay, let them only see us, while
We wear the mask.
We smile, but, O 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!
How does Dunbar characterize the speaker in "We Wear the
Mask"?
The speaker explains that he and others hide their
suffering and pain behind a facade.
The speaker and his friends enjoy frightening people
with their outrageous masks.
Dunbar implies that the speaker and others put on a
brave face while out in public.
Dunbar portrays the speaker as someone who
deceives others for personal gain.



Answer :

GinnyAnswer
In the poem "We Wear the Mask" by Paul Laurence Dunbar, the speaker is characterized as someone who hides their suffering and pain behind a facade. This can be seen throughout the poem where the speaker talks about wearing a mask that grins and lies, hiding their true emotions and struggles from the world. The speaker explains that they smile outwardly to conceal their inner turmoil, presenting a false front to society.

Dunbar portrays the speaker as someone who deceives others by putting on a brave face while actually feeling tormented inside. The speaker's cries for help and true feelings are directed towards a higher power, such as Christ, indicating a sense of desperation and longing for relief from their suffering. This deception is not for personal gain but rather a coping mechanism to navigate the challenges and expectations of the world.

Overall, the speaker in the poem is characterized as someone who masks their pain and struggles, presenting a facade of happiness and strength to the outside world while dealing with internal torment and anguish.