“Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.”–Oscar Wilde
The statement seems paradoxical at first sight. It is common sense to say that people are most honest when they speak openly as themselves. But Wilde believed reality was more often complex. Social expectations continuously tune human behaviour. We do care about what other people think about us. We are scared of criticism, rejection, embarrassment or being judged. As a consequence, we tend to mask our real thoughts and feelings with well-formed public images.
The “mask” in Wilde’s quote serves as a symbol. It means not a masquerade in the physical sense. Instead, it’s any situation where people feel safe from judgement. People are more honest when they think they’re not being watched in person. They are able to show feelings, beliefs, fears and wishes that they usually conceal. In this sense, the mask is good for the release of truth. It is a concept seen in literature, theatre and even modern life. Writers often put their inner thoughts into characters in fiction. Sometimes actors can tell us some deep truths through their performance. Maybe it’s easier to share with strangers than with those closest to us. It also reveals Wilde’s insight into human psychology. He knew identity was complicated. The self we present to the world is not necessarily the self we feel in private.
