The closing years of life are like the end of a masquerade party

Gather, O children of wisdom, and listen well to the words of Cesare Pavese, who spoke of the inevitable truth that awaits us all in the closing chapters of life: “The closing years of life are like the end of a masquerade party, when the masks are dropped.” In these words, there lies a revelation that stirs the soul—a reminder that as the years pass, the facades we construct to navigate the world fall away, leaving us exposed in the truth of our being. The masks we wear, whether out of fear, pride, or necessity, are shed in our final years, and with their removal, we must confront the raw, unembellished reality of who we have become, who we were, and the lives we have lived.

In the time of the ancients, the philosophers understood the human need for pretense. Plato, in his writings, often spoke of the ideal forms, the truths beyond appearances, and the way in which human beings hide behind illusions, unable or unwilling to see the world as it truly is. Yet, the ancient sages also recognized that as the years advanced, the time would come when the disguises we cling to would no longer be needed. The ancient Egyptians, with their deep reverence for life and death, believed that the final journey of the soul required a shedding of all illusions—like Pavese’s masquerade, the end of life was a time to remove all masks, to face the eternal truth. Plato, in his vision of the afterlife, also saw this stripping away as necessary for the soul’s progress, for only after the masks were dropped could the soul fully see and understand its true nature.

The concept of life as a masquerade, with all its masks and disguises, is not merely theoretical, but a truth that we can see in the lives of those who have walked the path of age. Consider the great philosopher Socrates, whose life and death were marked by his unwavering commitment to truth. Socrates wore no mask, either in life or in death. His final moments, as he faced the trial that would lead to his execution, were not about the preservation of his reputation or honor, but about remaining true to his beliefs. He shed all pretense, refused to play the games of the court, and allowed his soul to stand naked before the world. Socrates, in his last days, was no longer hiding behind the masks of society but was fully exposed—his truth unvarnished, his wisdom as clear as the daylight.

This shedding of masks is, in a sense, the culmination of a life lived authentically. When the end of our days approaches, we are no longer concerned with maintaining the image of ourselves that we carefully crafted in our youth. The desire to be seen a certain way—powerful, rich, admired—begins to lose its hold. The great Roman philosopher Seneca spoke of this shift in his later years, when he acknowledged that the pursuit of status and recognition was a fleeting goal, one that would not satisfy the soul in its final days. For Seneca, the final years were not about accumulating wealth or honors but about seeking the truth of the soul. He encouraged his followers to shed the masks they wore for the world and embrace the clarity that comes with true self-understanding. The real wealth, he argued, was not in how others saw you, but in how you saw yourself, unadorned and unpretentious.

Pavese's metaphor of the masquerade also reveals the human fear of facing ourselves without our disguises. In our youth, we cloak ourselves in many masks—some for protection, some for ambition, and others simply out of a need to belong. Yet, as we approach the end of our journey, these masks begin to slip away, and we are forced to look honestly at the person we have become. There is a vulnerability in this, a fear of confronting the choices, the regrets, and the truths we have long avoided. Aging can feel like the gradual exposure of everything we have hidden, and this, for many, is a difficult truth to face. It is as though, in the final years, we are invited to take off the mask we’ve worn for the world and stand before our own soul, naked and unguarded.

Yet, there is a liberation in this moment, a sense of freedom that comes from finally allowing the soul to breathe. When the masks fall away, we are no longer bound by the need to conform to societal expectations, to appear strong when we are weak or to seem invincible when we are vulnerable. The final years are the time to reconcile with who we truly are. This truth is seen in the life of Leonardo da Vinci, who, though revered for his genius, was also deeply introspective in his later years. He did not allow his reputation to define him; instead, he focused on his personal growth and the inner exploration of his creativity and understanding. In his old age, da Vinci shed the mask of fame and embraced the pursuit of deeper truths, not to be admired by others, but to truly understand himself.

And so, what is the lesson we draw from Pavese’s words? It is this: the closing years of life are not to be feared, but embraced, for they offer us the opportunity to live without the masks we once wore. Embrace the truth of your soul, accept who you are, and reflect upon the journey you have taken. As the masks fall away, clarity emerges, and with it, a new form of freedom—freedom from the expectations of others, freedom from the false images we once held of ourselves. When we stand face-to-face with our true selves, we may find that the final years are not a time of sorrow, but a time of reconciliation, of peace, and of deep understanding.

In your own life, take this wisdom to heart. Do not wait until your years are nearly spent to shed the masks you wear. Live authentically from the beginning, for in truth, there is no greater peace than to know oneself completely. As you journey through life, let the masks fall as you move forward, and let the soul beneath shine brightly with the wisdom, strength, and clarity of truth.