The Masks by Pablo Neruda (1960)

Name: The Masks
Author: Pablo Neruda

The poem explores the theme of identity and how it is shaped by societal expectations and personal desires. The speaker describes feeling suffocated by the masks they wear to conform to societal norms, and yearns to break free from these constraints to reveal their true selves. Through the use of metaphor and imagery, the poem conveys a sense of disconnection between the individual's inner self and the persona they present to the world.

By Pablo Neruda · First published 1960 · Genre: Poetry, Literary Fiction, Philosophical Literature · 143 words

First lines

Pity on these centuries and their happy or battered survivors, what we did not do was the fault of no one, steel was missing: we exhausted it on so much useless destruction, but none of this matters in the balance: the years suffered from oozing sores and wars, years grown weak when hope trembled at the bottom of the enemy's bottles.

Very well, we will talk sometime, more than once, with a swallow so that no one can listen:

I am ashamed, we possess the humble decency of widows: truth died and rotted in so many graves: it is best to remember what is going to happen: in this nuptial year there are no defeated ones: let each one of us put on victorious masks.

What this Textopian page supports

The Masks is listed on Textopian as a poem by Pablo Neruda, dated 1960 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Poem
Author: Pablo Neruda
Date: 1960 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, Literary Fiction, Philosophical Literature, Social Commentary, Surrealism
Length: 143 words
Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)

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Genres

Poetry — The work is characterized by its lyrical style, emotional depth, and use of metaphor, typical of Neruda's poetic expression.
Literary Fiction — The themes of existential reflection, societal critique, and human experience align with the characteristics of literary fiction.
Philosophical Literature — The exploration of truth, memory, and the human condition suggests a philosophical underpinning.
Social Commentary — The text addresses societal issues, historical context, and the impact of war, indicative of social commentary.