Beneath the Mask: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

{{quote|''"We wear the mask that grins and lies''

 

 

The secrets this mask hides are varied and are not always dark. A villain, for example, might be [[Pet the Dog|hiding a soft spot]].

 

 

This hidden self is sometimes portrayed as "the real self". Occasionally the person actually wants someone to see their hidden side (the "real me") but for some reason can never get people to see it. More complex works might argue that the hidden self is just a part of the real self, and that the public self is also part of the real self.

 

{{examples}}

== Anime and Manga ==

* ''[[Magical Project S]]'': Misao Amano's normal self is that of a stereotypical [[Shrinking Violet]] [[Friendless Background|friendless]], [[Shy Blue-Haired Girl|blue-haired]] [[Ill Girl]]. However, this persona falls away when she's transformed into Pixy Misa, the manifestation of her deeply repressed id: an egomaniacal [[Chaotic Evil]] [[Green-Eyed Monster|jealous]] [[Dark Magical Girl]] [[Villainous Harlequin|trickster]].

* In ''[[Kare Kano]]'', Arima is insanely scared of what's beneath his.

* ''[[Kashimashi: Girl Meets Girl]]'' has the protagonist who gradually feels more and more free to act more feminine.

* Kurei from ''[[Flame of Recca]]'' personifies this trope, he even wears a mask! He may seem like one of the most cruel, heartless and sadistic characters in the series, but most of his actions are driven by his love for people he cares about.

** However, it's played more straight with {{spoiler|Rika}} in the second season, where {{spoiler|although everyone knows about her place in the Furude family, she acts like a child usually would at her age. At least, the age everyone thinks she is.}} However, when {{spoiler|she's}} seen alone with {{spoiler|Hanyuu}}, {{spoiler|she}} acts much more like [[The Stoic|a stoic]], or even a [[Determined Defeatist]].

* Barnaby Brooks Jr. from ''[[Tiger and Bunny]]'' has ''two'' masks superimposed on one another. The first is the guise of a charming, skilled [[The Ace|ace]] that hides a rude, untrusting [[Ice Queen|Ice King]] beneath it. The rude, untrusting Ice King mask in turn hides a {{spoiler|traumatized, lonely man who doesn't know what to do with his life beyond getting revenge on the organization that assassinated his family.}}

* Several characters in ''[[Life (manga)|Life]]'' are like this, typically to mask their [[Jerkass]] side.

* In [[Kimi no Iru Machi]] when Haruto first meets Eba Rin he wonders how such a level headed person could be related to Yuzuki, even if only as step-sisters. Eventually Rin gets tired enough of the mask that she completely discards it with Haruto, in fact she is more honest with herself around Haruto {{spoiler|and eventually Yuzuki}} that she doesn't put it back on around them, leading her to change [[Bitch in Sheep's Clothing|just a little bit.]]

 

* The Sentry, though he pretends to be a [[Lawful Good]] hero, has a dark side that manifests against his will.

** The notion that it was a separate entity was itself a [[Retcon]], and Phoenix was always supposed to be Jean Grey's more passionate, "dark" side. [[Master of Illusion|Mastermind's]] messing with her head was originally what made the [[Super-Powered Evil Side|"superpowered side" evil.]]

* Black Adam of [[Captain Marvel]] was chosen as a champion of justice, but when he received superpowers he [[Anti-Hero|didn't react as his patrons expected him to]].

 

* In ''[[DC Nation]]'', Fauna lampshades this when it comes to Nightwing. After seeing him as Dick Grayson, she wrote in her [[Character Blog]] that not many people put a mask ''on'' when they want to be themselves.

* Played straight in a Danny Phantom [[Fanfic]] called [http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3831182/1/Masks Masks.] It is unusual in that Danny is actually wearing three masks to hide his true self. A surprisingly good read.

 

* In ''[[Bridesmaids]]'' Helen is the typical [[Alpha Bitch]]. At least that's what it appears on the surface. But when she breaks down crying, she reveals {{spoiler|[[I Just Want to Have Friends|she's in a loveless marriage, and just gets invited to weddings because she's good at organizing events]].}}

* [[Film/Enter The Dragon|Enter The Dragon]]: In reference to Han, the villain, whose martial-arts tournament is a front for a really nasty operation: "You must remember... the enemy has only images and illusions, behind which he hides his true motives. Destroy the image, and you will break the enemy."

* In the [[Film of the Book|film version]] of ''[[The Voyage of the Dawn Treader]]'', the darkness tempts the main characters, showing their hidden desires.

* The knights' elaborate, mask-like helmets in the John Boorman film, 'Excalibur,' show the real personae of the wearers.

{{quote|'''Ray:''' People aren't always what they appear to be, Jimmy. Don't forget that.}}

 

== Literature ==

* In [[The Dresden Files]], wizards have two major abilities related to this.

** A Soulgaze is a one time per person link. When initiated by the wizard staring into someone's eyes for a few seconds, each sees the other's True Self.

* The entirety of the [[Ciaphas Cain]] novels is about a '''[[Fake Ultimate Hero|HERO]] [[Memetic Mutation|OF THE]] [[All the Tropes Wiki Drinking Game|IMPERIUM]]''' who secretly regards himself as a [[Dirty Coward]] whose every action was motivated by self-interest. Whether or not you believe that depends very much on [[Alternate Character Interpretation|how you interpret his true character]].

* In Elias Canetti's book ''Crowds and Power'', he speaks in detail about masks and hiding of a true-self in relation to power. For Canetti everyone wears a mask and for this reason a ruler is never able to truly trust in anyone, which is a cause of paranoia regarding[[Et Tu, Brute?|betrayal]]. For Canetti the "unmasking" is crucial in the movements of power.

* Double Subverted in [[Deep Space Nine]] ''Soldiers of the Empire''. Klingons underneath their swagger are lonely overworked soldiers grumbling about their lot just as much as human soldiers do. But when inspired they [[Becoming the Mask|put on their mask]] again and go into battle as a true [[Proud Warrior Race]].

 

* Major Zod in ''[[Smallville]]'' pretended to be an ally to Clark and a caring leader until he received his superpowers, revealing his hidden lust for power. "[[Paradise Lost|Better to rule in hell than to serve in heaven]]."

** Lana Lang once received Clark's superpowers, using them to try to kill [[Big Bad|Lex]], steal his secrets, and discredit him in the media.

** This is a premise of the show too , as all the main cast including the patients are not always what they seem to be, in the case of the patients their lies often complicate the medical procedures of the team , while House himself dedicates his time to discover the secrets of his co-workers.

* [[Lizzie McGuire]] displays the title character's duality with an animated version of Lizzie saying whatever Lizzie is really thinking.

* In ''[[iCarly]]'', Nevel is a polite, nice kid when within his mom's vicinity, but is a complete [[Jerkass]] outside of it.

* Pretty much the entire basis of ''[[Hannah Montana]]''.

* ''[[Odyssey 5]]'' has Kurt occasionally show a much kinder side than his usual persona.

* Effectively everyone of any importance on ''[[Babylon 5]]'', as summed up by G'Kar's word of warning to Catharine Sakai: ''"No one here is exactly what he appears. [[Ass in Ambassador|Not]] [[Magnificent Bastard|Mollari]], [[The High Queen|not]] [[Lady of War|Delenn]], [[The Captain|not]] [[Obfuscating Stupidity|Sinclair]]... and [[Well-Intentioned Extremist|not]] [[Cassandra Truth|me.]]"''

 

 

 

 

* Explored deeply in ''[[Jekyll and Hyde]]'', most notably with the song ''Facade'' and its numerous reprises.

{{quote|There's a face that we wear in the cold light of day/ It's society's mask, it's societies way/ And the truth is... That it's all a facade.}}

* A bittersweet one for ''[[King's Quest]]'': despite his return to Daventry, his rank of prince, and his joy of being a free man with a loving family, Alexander considers that identity as "a cloak." [[Expanded Universe]] material establishes that he still considers himself to be "Gwydion," the name he had as Mannanan's slave. In the series guide, he makes a concession to both identities by signing his name Alexander-Gwydion.

* ''[[Heavy Rain]]'' has Lt. Blake and his boss, Captain Perry, liking [[By-The-Book Cop]] Norman Jayden. However, their true selves revealed that [[Jerkass|they don't like him]].

* Zelos from [[Tales of Symphonia]] at first appears to be a Skirt Chasing pervert who uses his rank as the Chosen to bring Ladies to his bedroom and simply just relishes the limelight. Inside, he's really {{spoiler|a calculating individual who suffers from self-loathing due to an EXTREMELY messed up childhood, which involves his mother telling him "I Wish You've Never Been Born" just before she dies.}}

* [[Tales of Legendia]]: Grune starts of as an Amnesiac who is basically the teams personal [[Cloudcuckoolander]]. Later on, even though she tries to hide it when she figures it out, it is revealed that Grune is really {{spoiler|a goddess of time whose only purpose is to battle with her evil counterpart in order to determine the fate of the world.}}

* ''[[Tales of Vesperia]]''. After {{spoiler|his [[Face Heel Turn]] and subequent redemption}} we get to see the person behind Raven's sleazy-selfish-pervert mask. {{spoiler|After revealing, he does return to the mask though, because he much prefers that persona.}}

 

 

* {{spoiler|Lesteena}} in ''[[Eien no Aselia]]'' isn't sure whether her normal personality or the one she pretends to be when she gets a chance to relax is the real one. The answer seems to be both and neither.

* Tohsaka in ''[[Fate/stay night|Fate Stay Night]]'' is a bit of a funny example. She acts like a perfect and kind student, but beneath that she's irritable, [[Tsundere|dishonest about her feelings]], [[Not a Morning Person]], selfish and something of a [[The Gadfly|troll.]] However, beneath ''that'' is something she doesn't seem entirely aware of: She values people's lives a great deal, will die for others, values fair play and honesty and is actually rather kind. Nor is she as ruthless as she thinks she is.

 

== Web Original ==

** Both Dr. Horrible and Captain Hammer actually have three layers to them. On the surface, Billy is just Billy, leading a normal life, trying to woo Penny, underneath that he's the power-hungry Dr. Horrible, but even deeper down he's just Billy. As Penny mentioned, she first thought Hammer was just a big jerk, but he became really sweet later on. However, he really is just a [[Jerk with a Heart of Jerk]].

* In [[Neopets]]: {{spoiler|Xandra in the "Faerie's Ruin" plot initially has a facade of a helpful and nerdy innocent appearance with anger issues (even using glasses to appear more innocent}} [http://images.neopets.com/faerieland/tfr_fa61c26562/conv/2_9815d2d41a.png pictured here]. However she is revealed to be a [[Well-Intentioned Extremist]] with a completely "machiavellian" and [[A God Am I|egomaniacal personality]] [http://www.drsloth.com/p/view/162912/ pictured here].

* [[Ask That Guy With The Glasses]] is a nicely layered version of the trope. The "mask" is a distinguished gentleman, underneath that is a bastard who likes playing with people, underneath that is an invoked Complete Monster, and underneath that is a cesspool of self-loathing and damage.

 

== Western Animation ==

** Prince Zuko as well, especially in season one. He is introduced as a ruthless, conceited bully of a prince who only cares about himself and seemingly looks down on everyone, including his superiors. In reality, he's just a [["Well Done, Son" Guy|good-natured kid]] who wants his father to be proud of him. Over the next two seasons, this facade begins to gradually break and by the final episode it has disappeared completely.

* Helga from ''[[Hey Arnold!]]'' expressed her true feelings for Arnold when alone.

* In ''[[Phineas and Ferb]]'', there are numerous examples:

** Candace Flynn is secretly a fan of a series called Duckie Momo (a parody of both [[Hello Kitty]] and Pokemon). She used to wear a costume in order to hide her love of the series from her friends, going as far as lying to both her boyfriend and her best friend.

* [[Kevin Spencer]], in his confrontation with [[Love Interest]] [[Axe Crazy|Shawna]], states that beneath all her sociopathic, murderous tendencies, she's really a popularity-obsessed bitch.

* Casper The Friendly Ghost, in one of the older cartoons, ''Fright from Wrong'', is force-fed a huge jar of "Mean Pills" by his mean uncles, who want him to be a mean ghost to ''humans''. But Casper spends the rest of the short putting them through the wringer (both literally and figuratively). It would appear that this example wouldn't count since Casper was drugged to act like that, right? Ehhh, not so much... he reveals at the very end that he never took the pills; all the cartoonish brutality he'd unleashed on his uncles was all him just trying to teach them a lesson! The little Friendly Ghost has a vicious side hidden under the "friendly".

 

 

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Disguise Tropes]]

[[Category:More Than Meets the Eye]]

[[Category:Psychology Tropes]]

[[Category:Fame and Reputation Tropes]]

[[Category:Identity Index]]