Comedy and Tragedy Masks

Every play had them. Without them, amphitheatres were incomplete. They weren't human faces; they were masks. Yes, we are talking about those two faces. They are now the universal symbols of theatre ― the comedy and tragedy theatre masks.

The masks, as symbols of drama and acting, are universally popular. However, the story behind their origin is less famous. The origins of these masks date back to open-air Greek theatre. Greek actors wore them on the stage to represent different emotions. They have an exaggerated look so the audience could clearly distinguish between them.

The comedy and tragedy masks reflect two aspects of human emotions. The comedy mask shows us how foolish or fun human beings can be. The tragedy mask, on the other hand, portrays dark emotions, such as fear, sadness, and loss. The two masks are always together because their appearance together holds a symbolic importance. They show the two extremes of the humanpsyche: joy and sorrow.