THE SECOND PERSONALITY: THE USE OF THE MASK IN RALPH ELLISON S INVISIBLE MAN

The mask is a cover or external layer for the face or head used as a disguise. It hides the identity of a person in order to establish another being. It is the appearance that is distinct from the underlying true personality. The word persona is used to describe this layer. Persona is also the name used in ancient Greece for theatrical masks worn by actors to indicate emotions. Different masks or roles can be assumed depending upon the context.