Septem

We don't have to look further than literature, film and everyday life to realise the potential of a mask to unleash the inner human spirit and empower those that behold it. Romeo Montague dons a mask at the Capulet's masquerade ball, which ultimately leads him to the love of his life. Batman adorns the mask of a bat to instill fear in the enemy and preserve his identity while protecting society. The Wesley lion's mask allows the person hiding behind it to act as jovial as they wish without having judgement passed upon them. Masks have the power to release everything that we would otherwise be too scared or embarrassed to reveal; however, when our identity is concealed, our dignity is preserved. But what happens if a mask serves not to reveal the inner human spirit, but instead hide it? What happens when exactly who we are at the very core of our being is hidden away from even those that we love most, and all that remains to be seen is a superficial mask by which one can be judged? If this mask hides your tears, your flaws, your weaknesses and your pain, why are you wearing it? To protect yourself or to protect other people? A mask of perfection does not play a beneficial role in the long run, but merely becomes a default by which other people judge you; it becomes your reputation. However, the fact that people pass a judgement based on perfection no longer strengthens or lifts you, but only makes you feel more like people don't understand. The mask becomes a barrier between you and those people that should be able to empathise the most, and then only serves to make you feel more alone. But no one can wear a mask forever; as time passes, the mask breaks down - whether by choice or inevitably by the crumbling base upon which it is built. People begin to realise that you aren't that perfect, things aren't so easy, and you aren't really that much of an inspiration. It frightens you, because people become closer to seeing the truth, but by this stage, not even you know what the truth is. Mask or no mask, it doesn't matter anymore; I have lost my true identity.