Masquerade

I have never really worn a mask before. I generally express my emotions fairly clearly to everyone around me, but even when I do not want people to know what I am feeling, I usually just separate myself from them until I feel better. I like this better than wearing a mask because I do not have to lie to people about how I am feeling, since I do not like to make other people mad or sad with how I feel about them.

However, why do people wear masks? That is a good question, and it has several answers. One reason that people wear masks, I think, is because they are afraid of the world. A mask hides them and their true self from the harsh and angry cries of critics and provokers. It acts as a shield from all the bad things on the outside that could possibly harm the sensitive soul cowering behind the mask.

Another possibility is that the person behind the mask is ashamed of themselves or something they have done. They do not want to be judged by people from the outside, not even by their friends and family. They are afraid of what they might lose if people knew their dirty little secrets, so they use the mask to hide their sins and mysteries.

A final reason that someone might wear a mask is that they find what they are feeling inappropriate to the situation that they are in, such as a person who has experienced a tragedy but is celebrating a friend's birthday. They might wear a mask of happiness in order to protect those around them from their own feelings of sadness ruining the general feeling of happiness. In this way, the mask wearer might wear his or her mask in order to conform to the people around them.

Now that I think about it, there have been times where I have worn a mask, but they are a bit too personal to put in public. I guess they will simply remain my secrets.