Beneath the Mask/Playing With

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.


Basic Trope: A character has a side they don't normally show to those around them.

  • Straight:
    • Bob acts like a good guy most of the time, but deep down, he's an emotional mess.
    • On the outside, Bob is stoic, quiet, and comes off as an apathetic loner, but deep down, he is actually quite nice and optimistic.
  • Exaggerated: Bob is the nicest guy you'll ever meet, but deep down, he's pathologically homicidal.
  • Justified: If people knew Bob was hurting deep down, they wouldn't have nearly the same level of respect for him that they do.
  • Inverted: Bob shows the side he wants to hide to the world, while the mask only shows in private.
  • Subverted:
    • There is nothing under his "facade." Bob is always a cheerful guy.
    • Bob's quiet...until he gets drunk.
  • Double Subverted:
    • ...Except his hidden side is hidden much deeper than anyone thought.
    • But after he's sober, he's back to normal stoic, quiet, loner, Bob.
  • Parodied: Bob acts sarcastically cheerful and everyone buys it then he turns to the camera and stated how he truly feels; nobody notices this.
  • Deconstructed: The man beneath the mask comes out and destroys everything he's ever worked for in one fell swoop.
  • Reconstructed: The man beneath the mask comes out, allowing his friends to emphasize with him, and help him get over his issues.
  • Zig Zagged: ???
  • Averted:
    • Bob is always a cheerful guy. There's nothing tragic under his public face.
    • Bob's just silent. He never really says much.
  • Enforced: "We need to give Bob some depth. Let's have him hide a breaking heart under his normal act."
  • Lampshaded: "I'll bet you that there's something hidden under Bob's cheerful face. Like he's still angsting over the death of Alice."
  • Invoked: ???
  • Exploited: Drake knows what's under Bob's mask, and uses it to put Bob into a full-on breakdown.
  • Defied: Bob has a mask available, but doesn't use it.
  • Discussed: Bob writes a song about his inner feelings, but cleverly disguises it so it seems like a harmless tune to those not in the know.
  • Conversed: "Wow, I wouldn't have guessed Bob was so messed up."

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