Question

Analyze elements of naturalism. "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 Wear the Mask," Paul Laurence Dunbar. Dunbar wrote "We Wear the Mask" during a period of widespread racial discrimination in the United States. Why might the wearers of the mask not want people to see their pain? Which of the following interpretations did you include in your answer?

a. Concern for their own safety
b. The fear of appearing weak
c. The belief that the world wasn't ready to see it
d. The feeling that revealing pain would hinder their success

Answer 1

The wearers of the mask in Dunbar's poem may hide their pain for safety, to avoid appearing weak, because the world isn't ready to see it, and to not hinder their success. Dunbar's work reflects the struggle of African Americans and gives them a voice. It echoes Du Bois's ideas of double consciousness and the veil, representing the complex identity and survival strategies of African Americans. Option a is the correct answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Paul Laurence Dunbar's poem "We Wear the Mask," the wearers of the mask might not want people to see their pain for multiple interconnected reasons. First, there is a concern for their own safety, as showing pain could make them targets of further racism and violence during a period when racial discrimination was rampant. Second, there might be a fear of appearing weak, as vulnerability could have been seen as a disadvantage in a society that marginalized them. This fear could stem from both social perceptions and the internalized need to present a strong front in the face of oppression.

Lastly, the belief that the world was not ready to see it is significant, suggesting that the dominant culture was either indifferent or hostile to the suffering of African Americans, and revealing such pain would not have led to empathy or change. Revealing one's pain may also be perceived as a hindrance to success, as navigating within a discriminatory society often required African Americans to suppress their true feelings to achieve personal and communal progress.

Paul Laurence Dunbar's literature provides insights into the African American experience, giving voice to those who were often silenced by society. Similar themes are explored in W.E.B. Du Bois's concept of double consciousness and the veil, which convey the internal conflict and social barriers faced by African Americans. These literary works highlight the complexities of identity and the strategies used for survival and self-preservation in a world that was frequently hostile to the realities of African American life.