Guante explains how, like other men, he wants to express himself freely; however, American society would chastise him and other men for speaking outside the social norm. Guante criticizes: “I want to be free, to express myself. Man up... I feel like being weak sometimes. Man, I want to be who I am. Standing man” (lines 26-32). By repeating "man up", Guante imitates society's derogatory response that suggests men should not express their emotions and go about their daily lives without showing their feelings, because that is what society considers masculine. He suggests that if a man lost his wife in a car accident, he should hide his emotions as if nothing had happened and pick himself up. Otherwise, society will view him as unstable and in need of professional help. However, Guante implies that increasing numbers will not solve the problems that arise from the realities of life or remove emotions and, as a result, society dehumanizes men by ignoring their humanity. The repetition of the quote keeps the audience's attention on the topic at hand, which is masculinity and not Guante's desires, and allows readers to imagine the dilemma men face when contemplating their masculinity. Men who do not conform to social norms face consequences that expose them to unnecessary negative consequences, but if they follow social norms reluctantly, they sacrifice a