First of all, I would like to start by saying that I based the title of this entry on the role of masks in both plays; Hamlet and King Lear.
Well, according to Cambridge Dictionary an accurate definition for this term say that a mask is the appereance or behavior that hides the truth.
I totally agree with that definition because it perfectly suits for both plays in the sense that all the characters in Hamlet and King Lear hide an identity behind an hypocrite truth. The reason why I claim this is because this overwhelming theme prevails in many of Shakespeare's plays.
Some clear examples of the role of masks are on the one hand, the fact that Claudius (Hamlet) pretends to be a friendly, kind and caring person; but in the inside he is full of hate, calculating and cold person who stealthily murdered his brother in order to seize the throne.
On the other hand Edmund (King Lear) also wears a mask in order to gain power, respect and love. In the inside he is a machiavellian character that is able to do anything to achieve his goals; just as Claudius.
As a personal opinion, I think that Shakespeare created this kind of characters because he wanted to show and exemplify how bad people can be when they are blinded by avarice in terms of money, possessions or power...I think that we all wear a mask consciouly or uncosciously in order to obtain something.
What do you think? Do you wear masks?
I think that we all wear masks at some point, and whenever we don't, we are seen as strangers, or just awkward. The environment finally forces us to act in a way, we have to be very polite in certain situations, behave in a certain way, etc, isn't that wearing masks too?
ResponderEliminarThe problem comes when we abuse of those "masks" moved by avarice, anger, or jealousy, as you said; with bad intentions.
I think that everyone wear a mask. And when you grow older you became aware of that. You start to notice that people are always lying, hidding things, being jealous and trying to conspire aginst you.
ResponderEliminarIs a terribe thing when you realize that, when you see that the world we live in is awful. And that in my case I have a son that will have to face that reality.
Gianinna, I totally agree with your arguments about the plays because the attitudes of both of the characters (Claudius and Edmund) show how bad people can be when wanting something so bad.
ResponderEliminarPersonally, even though people say that appearances are deceiving, I try not to follow this but trust people because we have to give the opportunity to let the other person to show his/her real feelings leaving behind the way they act or think.
Not judging people helps you not to stress, because If you are tinking all the time if someone is real or not, you will never be able to have a relationship with someone else. We need to be sure that we will never truly know a person because we are not in that person's minds and neither they are in ours.