The Mask -

1. Introduction: The Mask as a Universal Concept

: Dunbar describes the mask as a "debt we pay to human guile," symbolizing how marginalized groups—specifically African Americans—were forced to present a cheerful facade to hide profound suffering and "torn and bleeding hearts". The Mask

: Modern scholars link Dunbar's metaphor to the concept of "double consciousness," where individuals must view themselves through the eyes of an often hostile society. The Mask