We wear the mask that grins and lies, it hides our cheeks and shades our eyes, — this debt we pay to human guile; with torn and bleeding hearts we smile, and mouth with myriad subtleties. why should the world be over-wise, in counting all our tears and sighs? nay, let them only see us, while we wear the mask. we smile, but, o great christ, our cries to thee from tortured souls arise. we sing, but oh the clay is vile beneath our feet, and long the mile; but let the world dream otherwise, we wear the mask!

in the final stanza, what does the setting of the " mile" contribute to the message of the poem?

a
the setting of a “ mile” suggests that the masked people feel lost and cannot figure out which way to go, thus contributing to the message of identity.
b
the figurative setting suggests that the masked people have been on a long 'journey' (or mile) facing many challenges but still have farther to travel, thus contributing to the message of resilience.
c
the setting of the " mile" is paved with "vile" clay, implying that hiding one's feelings is wrong and thus adding to the message of honesty.
d
the setting is paved with "vile" clay, implying that the masked people hate the world for making them walk such a “long… mile” and thus adding to the message's demand for change.