a person’s identity is not a stable and independent psychological entity, but rather, it is like actors performing on a stage.

— Erving Goffman

The theater metaphor can be seen in the origins of the word person, which comes from the Latin persona, meaning ‘a mask worn by actors’. We behave differently (play different roles) in front of different people (audiences). We pick out clothing (a costume) that is consistent with the image we wish to project. We enlist the help of friends, caterers, and decorators (fellow actors and stage crew) to help us successfully “stage” a dinner for a friend, a birthday party for a relative, or a gala for a fundraiser. If we need to adjust our clothing or wish to say something unflattering about one of our guests, we are careful to do so out of sight from others (backstage). The presentation of ourselves to others is known as dramaturgy.

In his book The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life, Goffman defines front as “that part of the individual’s performance which regularly functions in a general and fixed fashion we define the situation for those who observe the performance. Front, then, is the expressive equipment of a standard kind intentionally or unwittingly employed by the individual during his performance.”

Signifying Act: Sign: ^{Symbolic Meaning}⁄_{Vocal Gesture} ^Meaning⁄_Object

— Robert Perinbanayagam

Therefore, under such a background, people’s dependence on symbols becomes a role and is alienated into symbols.