In the many works of famed and prolific writers, evidence can be found supporting the fact that, for some reason or another, characters often hide who they are with some sort of mask. Jack Merridew from Lord of the Flies, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, as well as David from Breaking away, are all great examples of the phenomenon know n as maskuerading.
             Jack Merridew was an average schoolboy from England until he became stranded on an island with dozens of other boys. Jack like much of the other boys on the island were very inexperienced in the ways of survival techniques. Due to this lack of experience all of the children put on a mask of some sort to maintain sanity. The mask Jack put on however, was not to merely keep sanity, his mask was donned to threaten, subdue, and intimidate the other children. Jack became jealous of the power that resided in Ralph, and hated him along with any of his followers. Jack, when behind his mask became a very violent person, interested mainly in hunting and cult like rituals that he urged the children to attend. As the "ringleader" of such gatherings he would persuade his minions that Ralph and all of his ideas would be detrimental to the well being of the island community. He would coerce the children to rob, pillage, and even cause harm to any who opposed his teachings. Jack wears his !
             mask because he feels inferior without it. With out his mask, he goes from violence crazed maniac, back to a little "innocent" choirboy. Jack really doesn't let himself become his authentic self at all. He may have slipped a few times early in the story, but during his stay on the island he enjoyed the way he saw himself with the mask on. He also enjoyed the way others saw him, they listened to him and followed him and he wanted that type of power forever.
             Cyrano de Bergerac, the man with a sharp wit and a quick sword (and
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