Question

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 over-wise,
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!

which line from \we wear the mask\ best conveys the idea that some people are forced to hide their suffering?
\this debt we pay to human guile;\
\why should the world be over-wise,\
\with torn and bleeding hearts we smile,\
\beneath our feet, and long the mile;\

Explanation:

To determine the line that conveys people hiding their suffering, we analyze each option:

• "This debt we pay to human guile" refers to a debt from deception, not hiding suffering.
• "Why should the world be over - wise" questions the world's need for wisdom, not suffering - hiding.
• "With torn and bleeding hearts we smile" shows that despite internal pain ("torn and bleeding hearts"), people outwardly smile, directly depicting hiding suffering.
• "Beneath our feet, and long the mile" is about the difficult journey, not hiding suffering.

Answer:

The option with "With torn and bleeding hearts we smile" (the bottom - left option among the four).