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Venetian Masks: the Deception and Protection of One’s Identity
Wearing a mask helps create a hidden identity. When wearing one, you disclose who you truly are. Your social status can no longer be revealed. Your family is unknown. You are able to act freely. Throughout centuries Venetian masks have been used on many occasions for such purposes. The mask wearer can carry about freely and interact with others without the boundaries of their identity and social structure to keep them apart. The mask has an extensive history in Venice, Italy. There are several designs, all serving different purposes. Shakespeare often incorporated masks into his plays, including Romeo and Juliet and Othello. In Othello, Shakespeare uses the concept of a mask throughout the play to reveal the different identities of Iago and his true intentions. In Romeo and Juliet, however, actual masks are worn to conceal the identity of Romeo at the Capulet Ball and Juliet metaphorically wears a mask to create a façade about her relationship with Romeo. The tradition of the mask is one that still lives on in Venice today with the annual celebration of Carnival.
Masks have been mentioned in Venetian history dating back to the thirteenth century. They are formed out of paper-mache and decorated with various paints, gems, feathers, and other decorations (Magic of Venezia Mask Story). The Venetian Republic was composed of intensive social and economic inequality, making for a unique culture. Such inequalities resulted in the use of masks for the purpose of concealing an individual’s identity. Venice, being such a small city, made it difficult to keep secrets but the use of the mask helped make it a bit easier. The masks served the social purpose of keeping all citize...

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...s used in a metaphoric sense.
The use of the mask in Romeo and Juliet was to keep Romeo’s true identity hidden (Romeo and Juliet, I.iv.). Romeo, Benvolio, and Mercutio, along with the other guests, all wore masks while attending the Capulet’s feast. Romeo agreed to go to the event after his friends convinced him that it would be a good way to get Rosaline, the girl who Romeo claimed he loved but did not love him in return, off his mind. Being a Montague, it was important for Romeo to keep his identity concealed. It was crucial for Romeo’s Montague identity to remain hidden simply because the Capulets and Montagues had been feuding families for an extended period. Tybalt, a Capulet, recognized Romeo’s voice and became enraged by his attendance. Tybalt’s anger eventually leads to a scene that results in his own death and Romeo’s banishment (Romeo and Juliet, I.v.).

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