Lately, I've been thinking a lot about the different sides to people. They say that you are the most yourself when you are alone. When you are by yourself, the truest of all your multiple personalities comes out. But otherwise, there are different versions of yourself depending on a number of factors. Where you are, who you are with, the time of the month, the time of day, the time of year, stress, and health are just a few examples of reasons for a shift in mood and personality. The question is, is this a good thing or a bad thing or is it both?
Sometimes I feel incredibly blessed to be an actor. Now granted I'm about as much as actor as I am a writer. I am one because I say I am one. But still, acting gives one a chance to really play around with personality because you are supposed to be a completely different person when you play any given role. Since I really began taking this craft seriously, I have found that over the years I have become progressively and progressively more aware of people's behaviors and mannerisms. I have noticed that people will treat me a certain way when they are with only me then as soon as others are around, their treatment of me totally changes. I do it, too. I don't know why people act in funny little ways like this. One of the great mysteries of life.
We are different people to our parents, our teachers, our pastors, our friends, our younger friends, our older friends, our coworkers, our classmates, strangers, and ourselves. Whether we are clinically diagnosed or not, we all have multiple personalities.
I started thinking about this while watching the film "Marie Antoinette." It's one of my guilty pleasure movies because I don't particularly think it's very good from a critic's point of view but yet I love to watch it over and over. I digress. I started thinking about Marie Antoinette herself. She was thrust into a world of upmost propriety and wealth. Her life was one of much bowing, curtsy-ing (?), and minding her P's and Q's like whoa. I'm sure she had friends and trusted loved ones in her life but I wonder if she ever truly let herself go. And I don't mean getting fat. I mean let herself just completely let loose and tell someone exactly what she was feeling. I mean think about what all this poor girl went through in her life. She was forced into a marriage beyond her control at a young age, made to live a country she was completely unfamiliar with, her husband wouldn't sleep with her until several years into their marriage, and then like the cherry on top of the sundae of her wonderful life, she got her head chopped off for simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Poor thing. She needed someone to just talk to if you ask me. She needed a blog. Of course, she may have gotten her head chopped off even sooner if she had one of these. I guess everything does happen for a reason.
In later centuries, one would never imagine wearing a hat indoors. Politics, war, and current events were saved for men. Art was practically forbidden yet very reveared. Women were ladies and men were gentlemen. People had titles. Respect. Dignity. So now the question is...what is all this gut spilling and no-hiding-anything getting us? Were people so miserable then keeping it all inside?
Were we better off keeping our big fat mouths shut?
Or are we happier now with multiple personalities?
Which offers more benefits for society and sanity on the whole?
I suppose Marie Antoinette also had multiple personalities. She was human after all. I wonder if she was happy or if she was confused like I am. So then I wonder...If Marie Antoinette and I are going through the same types of worries or trials, have we really progressed at all since the 18th century? Am I an idiot for wondering? Perhaps it's simply a matter of growing up. Humanity. Something we all go through. Boys, girls, ladies, gents, doesn't matter.
The good news is that despite the change in times, we can still have respect, dignity, and blogs. God bless us, everyone.
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