Masque

Masks are everywhere. Comedy and tragedy are represented by masks, kids wear them on Halloween, we are cautioned to secure our mask first should oxygen become necessary. We wear masks to sleep and to hide our true identity, but our familiarity with the mask does not ease the discomfort that often comes when we don them. Oscar Wilde saw the freedom of the mask when he observed, “the man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask and he will tell you the truth.”

In the 16th and early 17th century a new art form was created; a mixture of dancing, singing and acting that occurred behind the mask and suggested allegorical meaning to the audience. The performances suggested meanings that were not specifically stated in the plot but suggested – alluded to – in subtle representations of clues and evocation. Often gods and goddesses were represented as themes of love, delight and death were explored. Or recent experience with masks gives a unique insight into the Masque of Covid America.

We are watching the performance right now.

The performance includes the antics of those who refuse to wear masks because of a false equivalence: that masks wearing is an infringement on personal freedom. This obstinate refusal suggests that some believe that they have no responsibility to their brothers and sisters, that the difficulty they have breathing behind the mask is more important than stopping the breathing of others. Their convenience out weighs another’s right to life. The Count of Monte Cristo asserts, “I wear the mask. The mask does not wear me.” The non-maskers are being “worn by the mask,” to everyone’s detriment. We know that death is inescapable but we do what is necessary to delay it. Some of us do…

We can not shut ourselves off in Prospero’s castle to prevent covid and our wealth and possessions will not defend us. Streaming videos, writing our memoirs or dusting off our old stamp collection will have no bearing on our survivability. In parts of the US vaccinations are below 35% of the population and anti-vaxers continue to resist. People get into fights over mask wearing. We are well-and truly-insane.

We cannot afford to be cocky and we must use every prophylactic method available to us. I hope that our current craziness does not provide the greater – allegorical – meaning in our little play.

Wear the mask, do not let it wear you.