WHY: Do we have two faces?

The question was asked first on LinkedIn where other answers can be found. My answer was:

“Dear Wei,

Your question immediately brought to mind one of my hero's approaches to the problem of living in turbulent times. Shakespeare lived in very turbulent times and knew well the masks that people had to use to survive. (See "Shadowplay: The Hidden Beliefs And Coded Politics of William Shakespeare" by Clare Asquith linked below).

Two things are interesting about this problem of masks. Everyone assumes others are wearing masks all the time. So even when you are just trying to be yourself, no one believes you because they see you as having a hidden agenda at all times.

Thus, the Fool (read Jay Leno or David Letterman for example) can play jokes on the public officials (the President for example) without real worry of consequences even though they are dead serious in their comments about the emperor's lack of clothing.

Enjoy, then, Shakespeare's wisdom about the decay and corruption he saw about him in such a state of affairs, from his play "As You Like It":

All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages.

At first the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.
And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school.

And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress' eyebrow.

Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon's mouth.

And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lined,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part.

The sixth age shifts Into the lean and slipper'd pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side,
His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound.

Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.”

What do you think?

Please include your comment here or contact me to discuss.

Thanks.

John Darrouzet