The Root of Personas Most people are familiar with the phrase “living a double life”. However, many do not understand the psychological aspect behind the idiom. A separate lifestyle, or a persona, is very much akin to a mask. It hides the embarrassing moments and qualities of one’s life. But what spurs these psychological masks to be created? Personas are ultimately formed to avoid turmoil.

Turmoil varies from person to person. For some individuals, turmoil can be as simple as failing to respect one's own superiors. In Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell, the narrator presents stories of several airplane accidents where the lack of proper communication resulted in the crashing of the vehicle. In one accident, the first officer of a Korean Air plane notices that the current weather is unadvisable for safe airplane travel, and says, “Captain, the weather radar has helped us a lot” (Gladwell, Ch. 7). The First Officer realizes …show more content…
Only when Jody is near death does she finally reveal her contempt for his hierarchical position in the relationship. Hurston then narrates, “She took careful stock of herself, then combed her hair and tied it back up again. Then she starched and ironed her face, forming it into just what people wanted to see, and opened up the window and cried, ’Come heah people! Jody is dead. Mah husband is gone from me.’” (Hurston, Ch. 8). Hurston’s use of plastic words like “starched” and “forming” highlight the stark difference between Janie’s persona and her own self. Janie herself despised the poor treatment that her husband inflicted on her, but any chance of trying to convey it to the public eye would simply be inconceivable. Thus, she fabricates a persona that fits in with the community of Eatonville. Any other personality would inevitably lead to the ostracization of Janie from her