Representation of Disguise in Narratives - Essay Example

Representation of Disguise/Lying in Narratives Introduction A disguise is anything that conceals changes or hides a person’s character traits or appearance. Modern physical disguises that can change or hide a person’s appearance include sunglasses, wigs, make up and clothes. Old days disguises that concealed a person’s appearance were mostly masks and heavy clothing. Although disguises ar4e used to conceal or change physical appearances, some disguises can be used to change or hide the true character traits of individuals. This is in instances where an individual wants to pass for being incredibly kind, humble and loving while; conversely, the person is exceptionally evil, cruel and ruthless. Disguises have been used in films and narratives form old times. In the contemporary world disguises, in films, use a body called avatar or a surrogate. Avatars are graphical representation of an individual’s character, on the other hand, surrogates are individuals that take the place of another person and act as the real people. Surrogates also use the same action plan like doubles which are common with presidents and other highly unsafe individuals like rich and influential businessmen. This article aptly examines the representation of disguise in narratives. The books include William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Flannery O’Connor’s A Good Man Is Hard to Find and Homers The Odyssey. Additionally this article is going to develop an argument about the significance of disguise in narratives. Comparison This piece of writing is going to spotlight the use of camouflage in three novels that are Hamlet, the Odyssey, and a Good Man Is Hard to Find. In all the above books, the style of disguise is used to conceal appearances, motives and feelings. To start with in the novel Hamlet, Hamlet is the key character in the novel. In numerous instances, he uses disguises to achieve and end to something. Hamlet succeeds in putting up a different face as to the reality. Firstly, Hamlet uses disguise in hiding his feelings for Ophelia (Shakespeare& Pearce, 30). He also hides his dislike of his Uncle Claudius’ marriage to Gertrude. Therefore, even though Hamlet is against the marriage, he pretends successfully. Another instance where Hamlet use disguise is in pretending to like his uncle the king yet he knows extremely well that he murdered his father, to become the ruler. In order to get more information and to know his brothers true intention hamlet disguise being insane (Shakespeare& Pearce, 50). Insanity means that he can access any information as people view him to be useless. Secondly, insanity keeps him out of harms way had his uncle figured that hamlet sensed about his murderous nature. This disguise is different from the disguise Claudius uses. The whole kingdom is fooled that Claudius is humble, kind and caring yet the audience know a different picture of him. Claudius is a ruthless, murderous and evil being whose only intention is getting the throne. Ophelia and Gertrude also mask away their pain by pretending to be happy (Shakespeare& Pearce, 18). Gertrude does not want to marry Claudius. In this narrative, it seems as if each character is a walking mask since everybody has inner thoughts that are the opposite in their actions. Ophelia’s death is not known whether to be suicide, or accident since different people saw her differently as she used disguise to pretend she was happy. Most characters use disguise to deceive society of their inner most feelings and intentions In Hamlet. This is similar to characters in A Good Man Is Hard to Find. The grandmother in this novel is pretentious because her actions seem to be out of good intentions but inside they are for her own selfish reasons. The grandmother wants her will to be done in the family; she disciplines the children and gives directions (OConnor & Asals, 32). She even criticizes the parents of the children especially the mother to make her look amateurish in the eyes of the family members. The grandmother hides her true intentions by faking stories of her childhood and leading the family astray leading to their death by the hands of the misfit (OConnor & Asals, 31). Again in her death, the grandmother does an act that seems charitable that is out for the good of the whole family yet it is for her own selfish reasons. This is because she does not want to die, and even if she dies she does not want her selfishness to be evident or to haunt her: therefore, she pleads to the misfit to spare the family and even calls him her son (OConnor & Asals, 50). This disguise is manipulative and exceedingly different from the disguise used by Hamlet or Claudius of wanting to get more information for justice or revenge. It is to have her way and make the parents look irresponsible. An example is when she criticizes the mother and compares her face to cabbage. This is pure cruelty on the grandmother’s side, yet the mother is a humble and quite person. The grandmother hides her dishonest, hypocritical and selfishness to the family by constantly telling lies especially to the children. She sees her self as the epitome of a lady as she dresses like one. This is to spite the mother and this ego lead her not to think the misfit would kill her as she is more of a lady than any other person in the car. The misfit trashes her ego by agreeing to her assessments but still killing her like the rest of the family. This makes the grandmother realize she is just a human being and is flawed like everybody. She lies like any human being. An example is when she found out that she had lost the way yet could not bring herself to speak the truth and tell the family. The grandmother wears a mask that speaks of her responsible and mature nature, yet she is evil, cruel, demanding and manipulative. In Odysseys, the gods use disguise in various ways to test human morals and characters. Gods are immortal beings who have supernatural powers and have their own ways as compared to human beings. Therefore, to keep human beings at stake and make their powers more believable, the gods use numerous disguises. The disguises are not the same as the disguise used in Hamlet, or A Good Man Is Hard to Find, since these are immortals that have ego reasons for using disguises. In the two previous novels, human beings in the society use disguises to prevent their true identity from fellow human beings and fit in the society. This is not so with the god’s characters in odyssey as they test human morals using disguises. Odysseus is a cunning man who finds no harm in lies as long as he can get whatever he wants. An example is the Trojan horse where he was a highly respected army commander, but lost all his crew, and it took him exceedingly long time to come home thus was ashamed as people were talking rubbish about him. Odysseus disguises himself as a beggar so as to seek sympathy from the people. He sees nothing wrong by being deceitful. Although Athena uses this disguise to Odysseus to enrage him even more. Odysseus uses this opportunity to find out more information about the suitors as even his wife, and his nurse believes that h is indeed beggar. In addition, he uses this disguise to test his father’s emotions. Before this, he was disguises by clouds by then also as to reach the castle safely (Homer & Lawrence, 2). Many gods also use disguises to manipulate human events more so Athena. In many events, she disguises herself as a man, child, mentor and mortal to manipulate events to favor her (Homer& Lawrence, 6). She even fights in human battles, pray and offer sacrifices like human beings. She manipulates Odysseus to do her will and even advices Telemachus and asks him to heed his advice. She does all this disguised as a man. Another god who uses disguise is Circe. While gods like Athena use their powers to disguise themselves as human beings and even as elements like water, fire or earth, Circe use his powers to disguise others. This is seen when he turns Odysseus crew into pigs. Penelope, Odysseus’ wife also uses disguises to the rest of the world. Odysseus is the only man she has ever loved and being away from him for twenty years pains her heart. Outside she is strong and does not care about Odysseus to the point that she even speaks directly to her suitors (Homer& Lawrence, 8). When alone Penelope cries her heart out, everything about her husband makes her cry his bows and arrows all make her sad. Contrast Even though most characters in the three books use disguises they use it for different purposes. A majority of them use disguise and illusions to make them forget about reality and live happily like Penelope in The Odyssey, Gertrude in Hamlet and grandmother in A Good Man Is Hard to Find. Other characters like Claudius in Hamlet and Athena, in The Odysseys and grandmother use, disguises to achieve their goals and manipulate the people and events. On the other hand, characters like hamlet use disguise to find justice and save their lives form imminent death at the hands of pretenders. While some characters like Claudius and Odysseus use disguise for revenge that is Claudius to retain his throne and Odysseus to know more about his wife’s suitors. Gods, unlike human beings, use disguise to test human morals and characters. In this manner, they can also influence human beings to do the same just like Agamemnon warned Odysseus about returning home as him. Therefore, being a beggar Odysseus could gauge his wife’s loyalty to him in a more cunning and sure way. Significance of Disguise in Narratives The use of disguises is an extremely vital style in narratives. Firstly, use of disguises gives the audience the opportunity to know a character extremely well and judge them accordingly. This is because, in the world of the narrative, the people will see a different image of an individual, but the audience will, know his true and innermost desires thus his true self. This is also incredibly entertaining to an audience since the use of disguised gives answers when they are not expected. For example in Hamlet, the use of insanity to get information makes the audience exceptionally happy since they get to know what the players do not know and entertain themselves by waiting for the outcome. Disguises are also extraordinarily crucial in that they are a mirror of what people are in the society. The stage itself is the world and the characters are the people in the world and their everyday activities. Disguises enlighten and educate the audience on the pretentious nature of people in then world. Disguises also teach people not to be too trusting of people based on their outward appearances. An example is odyssey believes in evil as being a means to the end and does not see anything wrong with being evil (Nikki). Another significance of using disguises by the characters is to deny the pain they are feeling in reality. Play pretend makes them camouflage in the bliss of not knowing their pain and with time the pain fades. This is because the characters pretend so long that they start believing that the pretend is the truth thus relieves their pain. An example is Odysseus who is so engrossed in the use of disguises that when found out by his nurse; he threatens to kill her because he cannot live with the reality (Nikki). Disguises and illusions make them live in peace and happiness. Disguise is also used to gather more information and gives a character a good revenge or justice plan as in the case of Odysseus and Hamlet respectively. It is easier to see the truth from afar, and as beggar or a madman it is even easier to source information. Furthermore, it is easy to know the true feelings of people and their true intentions. Therefore, disguise is a detective course of action for characters. Conclusion Disguises are anything that conceals a person’s identity, face or motives. The three novels all have characters that use disguises for several purposes. Some use disguises to hide their evil personalities while some use disguises to achieve an end to some information or deeds. On the other hand, some use disguises to seek revenge and justice like in Hamlet while some use it to enrich themselves like Claudius and Odysseys. Disguises play a vital role in narratives as they act as mirrors for the real people in the society. Thus, they educate and enlighten the audience apart from mere entertainment. Disguises in narratives also give the audience good entertainment in the world of the narratives and the chance to judge characters every move. This is because the audience can follow the characters knowing inside their heart what is unknown to fellow characters. Finally, disguise is used to give a character revenge plot and justice in the narrative. Works Cited Homer, and T E. Lawrence. The Odyssey of Homer. New York: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. Nikki. Homers Disguises. 17 April 2007. Web 2 April 2013. Retrieved from OConnor, Flannery, and Frederick Asals. A Good Man Is Hard to Find. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 1993. Print. Shakespeare, William, and Joseph Pearce. Hamlet: With Contemporary Essays. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2008. Print. Read More