Comparing Emerson's Self-Reliance and Dunbar's We Wear the Mask

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Comparing Emerson's Self-Reliance and Dunbar's We Wear the Mask

In Self-Reliance, Ralph Waldo Emerson condemns false appearances. Paul Laurence Dunbar's We Wear the Mask also supports this belief. However, there is a difference in the views of these two works. Emerson believes that people can shed their false social appearances and live a life true to themselves and others. Conversely, Dunbar thinks these pretenses are necessary. The authors' word choices and images support this argument.

Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Self-Reliance" expresses his striving for individuality, rebellion against authority, and rejection of false social appearances. This is shown through his non-conformist writing style and ideas. On page 1034, Emerson states "Society is a joint-stock company in which the members agree for the better securing of his bread to each shareholder, to surrender the liberty and culture of the eater." To me, this image is of people giving up what they believe so they can protect themselves. "Securing" is making something safe or free from risk of loss, so "securing of his bread" could symbolize a person protecting their feelings or place in society. The price for this is "to surrender the liberty and culture." So, in order to protect themselves people must surrender or give up their liberty (freedom) and culture (beliefs).

Emerson also states that "virtues are penances...Their works are done as an apology or extenuation of their living in the world"(p. 1035). Virtue is righteousness while a penance is an act to show sorrow for a wrongdoing. "Works" refer to chores or efforts at righteousness. "Apology" means regret and "extenuate" can mean to cover up. "Living in the world" could be symbolic of the lying and deceit that people do in everyday life. Therefore, people labor to appear righteous in order to make up for, or cover up, the bad things that they do.

On page 1036 Emerson says, "We come to wear one cut of face and figure." This sounds symbolically like putting on a mask or false appearance. Later, on the same page, Emerson talks about "the forced smile which we put on in company." "Forced" means to strain or produce with effort. Consequently, this "smile" we put on in public is not easily shown, as true emotions would be, but produced difficultly as if it was fake or not true.

Emerson does not subscribe to this outward falseness or the desire to appear righteous.

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