Philomela* before she was raped.

I hope
Order of Masks by likeness
By Virginia Moreno To make him believe this is the same kind
The chaste face he made,
To this harlequinade And my blind Lear* will walk me out
I wear black tight and fool’s cap Without a word
Billiken*, make me three bright masks Fearing to peer behind.
For the three tasks in my life.
Three faces to wear If my lover comes,
One after the other Yes, when Seducer comes
For the three men in my life. Make for me the face
That will in color race
When my Brother comes The carnival stars
make me one opposite And change in shape
If he is a devil, a saint Under his grasping hands.
With a staff to his fork Make it bloody
And for his horns, a crown. When he needs it white
I hope for my contrast Make it wicked in the dark
To make nil Let him find no old mark
Our old resemblance to each other Make it stone to his suave touch
and my twin will walk me out This magician will walk me out
Without a frown Newly loved.
Pretending I am another. Not knowing why my tantalizing face
Is strangely like the mangled parts of a
When my Father comes face
Make me one so like He once wiped out.
His child once eating his white bread in
trance Make me three masks.

About the Author:

Virginia R. Moreno was a Filipina poet, writer, and playwright. She was born on April
24, 1923 in Tondo, Manila. She studied at the University of the Philippines where she
became the editor of the school newspaper. She also studied at the Kansas Institute of
International Education.

Death:
Moreno died on August 14, 2021 at the age of 98.

Awards and Recognition:

1. Won at the Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature in the Poetry category for Batik
Maker and Other Poems. (1972)
2. Won the National Historical Playwriting Contest for The Onyx Wolf. (1969)

ANALYSIS

TITLE AND IT’S RELATION TO THE POEM:

The title "Order of Mask" suggests a structured approach to concealment or

transformation, which mirrors the content of the poem where the speaker requests three
masks for three significant men in their life. The "order" implies a deliberate
arrangement or sequence, indicating a planned strategy for interacting with these
individuals.

SHAPE AND FORM:

Free Verse

MOOD AND TONE:

The mood of the poem shifts between introspection, contemplation, and a hint of deceit.
There's an underlying tension as the speaker grapples with the need to present different
personas to each man in her life. The mood and tone convey a feeling of complexity
and tension, prompting readers to reflect on the intricacies of human relationships and
the persona/mask we wear handle them.

SYMBOLISM

1. Harlequinade: Symbolizes the theatricality and performance aspect of human

relationships, suggesting that interactions can often feel like staged acts where
individuals wear masks to conceal their true selves.
2. Masks: Represent the various personas or roles individuals adopt in different
relationships or situations. Each mask serves as a disguise, concealing emotions,
intentions, or vulnerabilities.
3. Billiken: Represents luck or fortune, implying that the ability to navigate
relationships effectively requires a degree of luck or divine intervention.
4. Black tight and fool’s cap: Implies the speaker's readiness to play the fool or adopt
different personas as needed in their interactions with others.
5. Brother's mask (devil, saint): Symbolizes the contrasting nature of familial
relationships and the desire to differentiate oneself from a sibling, whether by
embracing or rejecting similarities.
6. Father's mask (innocence): Represents the innocence of childhood and the longing
for a sense of safety or familiarity in the paternal relationship, despite potential
conflicts or traumas.
7. Lover's mask (changing color and shape): Symbolizes the fluidity of romantic
relationships and the adaptability required to maintain the lover's interest or affection. It
also signifies the concealment of past hurts or vulnerabilities to maintain the illusion of
attraction.
8. Carnival stars: Represents the ephemeral and transient nature of love and desire,
suggesting that these feelings can be fleeting or illusory, akin to the spectacle of a
carnival.
9. Stone: Symbolizes hardness or emotional detachment, indicating the speaker's
resilience or ability to withstand the lover's manipulations without revealing their true
emotions.
10. Magician: Symbolizes the speaker's ability to navigate relationships with cunning
and strategy, akin to a performer who dazzles the audience with illusions.

THEME AND CONCLUSION:

Throughout "Order of Mask," the theme of deception and adaptation resonates strongly.
The masks symbolize the various roles individuals adopt to navigate relationships,
often concealing their true selves. And also, the poem highlights the power dynamics at
play in these relationships, where individuals seek to control perceptions and
manipulate emotions.

In conclusion, "Order of Mask" offers a profound exploration of human nature and the
masks we wear to conceal our vulnerabilities. It prompts us to reflect on the
authenticity of our interactions and the extent to which we allow others to see our true
selves amidst the facade. Thank you for joining me in this insightful discussion.

VOCABULARY

Harlequinade: A comic theatrical genre characterized by masked performers and

pantomime.

Persona: The aspect of someone's character that is presented to or perceived by others;

a role or mask adopted by an individual.

Billiken: A mythical figure associated with luck or fortune.

Contrast: The state of being strikingly different from something else, typically
something in juxtaposition or close association.

Resemblance: The state of being similar to or like something or someone else;

similarity in appearance or nature.
Frown: A facial expression indicating displeasure, disapproval, or concentration,
typically characterized by a furrowing of the brow.

Philomela: In Greek mythology, a woman who was transformed into a nightingale after
being raped and mutilated.

Trance: A half-conscious state characterized by an absence of response to external

stimuli, typically induced by hypnosis or meditation.

Chaste: Abstaining from extramarital, or from all, sexual intercourse; morally pure or
virtuous.

Blind Lear: A reference to the character King Lear from William Shakespeare's play
"King Lear," suggesting a paternal figure who is oblivious or ignorant of the speaker's
true feelings or experiences.

Seducer: Someone who entices or persuades others, especially into sexual activity.

Carnival: A festival or occasion of revelry characterized by feasting, parades, and

masquerades, often preceding Lent.

Grasping: Taking hold of something tightly; avaricious or greedy.

Allure: The quality of being powerfully and mysteriously attractive or fascinating.

Suave: (Of a man) charming, confident, and elegant.

Magician: A person with exceptional skill or cunning in a particular activity or field.

Tantalizing: Tormenting or teasing with the sight or promise of something

unobtainable.

Mangled: Severely damaged, disfigured, or distorted, typically as a result of violence or

an accident.

Ephemeral: Lasting for a very short time; transient.

Illusory: Based on illusion; not real.