?An Interpretation of Paul Laurence Dunbar?s Poem Sympathy and We Wear

Throughout African American history, African Americans have employ numberss as a way of describing the African American delineate in America. One poet who was widely make outn for using poetry to describe the condition of African Americans in America was Paul Laurence Dunbar. Paul Laurence Dunbar was one of the some prolific poets of his time. Paul Laurence Dunbar utilise vivid, descriptive and typical language to depict images in his poetry of the indolent prejudices and racism that African Americans faced in America. Throughout this essay I will discuss, describe and interpret understanding and We befool the Mask. Both beneficence and We Wear the Mask were written by Paul Laurence Dunbar.To begin with, the poem Sympathy suggests to the reader a simile between the lifestyle of the caged bird, and the African American. Paul Laurence Dunbars center of management of Sympathy is how the African American identifies and relates to the frustrations and pain that a caged bird experiences. Dunbar begins the poem by stating I know what the caged bird feels, alas(African American books page 922). This shows the comparison of a caged bird to an African American. Dunbar wrote this poem with vivid, descriptive, and symbolic language throughout the entire poem. Dunbar uses this vivid, descriptive and symbolic language to stress his point that some one tied up in custody and chains is not privileged enough to enjoy the simple entirely unique parts of life. In the maiden stanza of Sympathy Dunbar wroteI know what the caged bird feels, alasWhen the sun is bright on the upland slopesWhen the roll up stirs soft through the springing mark,-And the river flows like a stream of glassWhen the primary bird sings and the first bud opes,And the faint perfume from its chalice steals-I know what the caged bird feelsThe first stanza is representative of the symbolic speech in which Paul Laurence Dunbar uses to describe the condition of African Americans. The first st anza also states how the conditions of African Americans are similar to that of a cage bird. The symbolism in the first stanza is that of nature. Dunbar speaks of the chalice, river, and grass which are parts of nature that a person who is not oppressed, may enjoy and take for granted. Unlike the non oppressed sight chalice, river, and grass are parts of nature in w... ...he second stanza is the mask in which hides African Americans feelings and thoughts from the public. The second stanza ask a question of Why should the piece be overwise which is interpreted as Dunbar asking why should the mass of citizenry have such a negative affect on people and how the minorities respond to societal norms. These societal norms that are spoken of a rules or unspoken laws that are set up to benefit and serve the majority or those that are in charge. In this case Similar to Sympathy the threesome stanza of We Wear the Mask is also like a prayer. The 3rd stanza is a plea for release of contr ol over African Americans. The third stanza is also a plea from African Americans for the release of hiding feelings and emotions.In conclusion, Paul Laurence Dunbar was of the most prolific poets to ever write poetry. Paul Laurence Dunbar used vivid, descriptive and symbolic language to portray images in his poetry of the senseless prejudices and racism that African Americans faced in America. This use of vivid, descriptive and symbolic language was very apparent in both of his poems Sympathy and We Wear the Mask.