We may spend our lives behind faces we did not create, but rather craft and accumulate in response to the roles and standards imposed by society. The outward face we present to the world may not truly resemble us as much as it satisfies others. It is the “mask” that forms a significant part of our personalities
This is where the importance of the title lies it highlights the contrast between the hidden inner self (the faces we do not see) and the outward social self the masks we live with. Definition of the Persona in Jung’s Theory
As mentioned in the first part of the article, the Persona, according to Jung, is the outward identity a person shows to the world a part of the conscious self used to interact with others. The term originates from Latin, where it referred to theatrical masks not just a face, but a role
The persona is a complicated system of relations between the individual consciousness and society, a kind of mask designed on the one hand to make a definite impression upon others, and on the other to conceal the true nature of the individual
Thus, the title becomes an entry point for understanding the dual structure of human nature. Who are we before ourselves. And who are we before the world
The masks we live with are not merely social roles; they can turn into a false identity if a person fully identifies with them. Instead of serving as a means of communication, the mask becomes a barrier that separates us from our true selves
These masks are much like the idealized images we craft on social media — we smile, achieve, love, and appear to be doing well… yet behind it all, we may be hiding fear, vulnerability, or even emptiness
This is where the true meaning of faces we do not see emerges our real faces, the ones we even hide from ourselves
According to Jung, the process of individuation is the only way to uncover those hidden faces. It is the journey toward the authentic self, through confronting the mask, understanding the shadow, and reconciling with the unseen parts of the psyche
Masks are not the end, but rather the beginning of discovering inner depth
An individual must distinguish between their true face and their social face; not to remove the mask, but to recognize it as a mask
Visual Description
Cool colors (blue, black), dark eyes, a sorrowful mouth
This mask expresses pain, sadness, and perhaps isolation. It represents the gloomy social face, which stands in contrast to the fourth mask
it reflects a withdrawal from society and emotional restraint. Behind it, there may be a hidden desire for healing or a search for the true self through the experience of pain
Visual Description
A peaceful natural scene featuring the sea, the moon, and calm green eyes gazing quietly, with the presence of violet grasses and flowers
This mask expresses the calm and spiritual face an individual presents to society. It may conceal inner anxiety behind a surface of serenity. The moon symbolizes the unconscious, suggesting the presence of deep, unspoken emotions
This indicates a mask that expresses external harmony, while hidden behind it may lie unexplored inner worlds
Visual Description
Cool colors (green, violet, blue). Fixed features, rigid expression. Absence of clear emotions or reactions
This mask suggests emotional rigidity and disconnection from the true self. It may reflect someone who has become accustomed to hiding their emotions behind exaggerated calmness or social coldness
The green color might symbolize an attempt at healing, while the violet hints at mystery and withdrawal
it mask could represent the mask of social function appearing composed on the outside while concealing unexpressed inner needs
Visual Description
Sharp, intersecting lines. Warm colors (pink, yellow, orange). Vague and indistinct facial features
This mask expresses internal conflict and identity fragmentation, as if the individual is concealing inner complexities behind an artistic or orderly appearance
It may indicate the tension between what a person truly desires and what they are expected to be
This could represent a mask reflecting an attempt to construct an organized image of oneself, while in reality it hides internal fragmentation or a self searching for unity and true identity
The illustrations featured in the article are works by researchers from the Art Therapy Team, April 2025