What does the poem Order for Masks by Virginia Moreno mean?

Question

What does the poem Order for Masks by Virginia Moreno mean?

Answer 1

"Order for Masks" by Virginia R. Moreno

The poem, "Order for Masks", is clearly talking about the different roles that the woman, who is the persona in the poem, has to portray throughout her life. It presents the woman's three masks which represent the three tasks in her life and the three faces she has to wear for the three men in her life. The first role that is illustrated is that of a sister – the woman towards her brother. As a sister, she tries to differentiate herself from her brother that is why she does things that are completely opposite or in contrast with the things her brother does. She wants to be unlike him in every possible way so to make him feel secure in his masculinity and to make him believe that she is not a threat to him. The next role mentioned is that of a daughter – the woman towards her father. As a daughter, she wants to show her father that she is the kind of woman that he expects her to be – pure, innocent and chaste, leading him to believe that she is and will be a perfect daughter. Third symaltaneous mask both as a wife and a mother as she turns older.