Paul Laurence Dunbar, being an African American man and poet during this difficult time, was able to recognize the faults of humanity and took it upon himself to try and change that. when the family of his wife, Alice, did not support their marriage he did not change who he was for them, but moved on with his life and looked for something better. However, later in his life he became depressed because he did not believe he was pleasing enough to others. He allowed the opinions of others to control him and the rest of his life.