Why People Have Alter Egos (Myself Included)

Her name is Scarlet.

For a long time, basically since I watched Chicago and found that I identify with Velma Kelly more than makes me feel comfortable, I decided that all the things that I want to say or do that aren't socially acceptable could be attributed to this persona. I think of her as a beautiful man hater with money to burn and a fat cigar in her perfectly rouged lips. She wears flapper dresses and three inch heels. She downs shots in bar rooms dark enough to make a person feel alive and dead at the same time.

Then, there is Elysia. Modest, fun loving, nervous, cautious, etc.

Sometimes, I (Elysia) find that Scarlet bubbles up through the cracks in my personality like magma in a fault line. But, she doesn't embarrass me, like most may think. In fact, even though people--especially my mother--have the tendency to drop their mouths in tiny "O"s of shock when I say or do something out of the ordinary, I feel a surge of pride whenever Scarlet makes an appearance. And, although her wit parallels something closer to a faux pas in civilized society, I think of it as more of an edge to my usual softness.

We all know I am pretty bizarre at times, and for those of you who don't know me that well, this little tidbit may add another layer to the cake that is my cracked personality. But, I am not the only one with a selective split psyche.

-Miley Cyrus *Hannah Montana

-Beyonce *Sasha Fierce

-Garth Brooks *Chris Gains

-David Bowie *Ziggy Stardust

Look at writer's who have pen names, actors and actresses who play characters over and over again (Sacha Baron Cohen for example). To me, it seems that everyone needs the storage space that is an 'alter ego.' These personas have the potential to be vehicles for our desires and whims, those that are perhaps too odd for our friends and families to handle. For others, these personas are like experiments, a fake person for them to attempt something on or with, before they attribute their own fragile name to their exploits. Either way, I think everyone should keep an open mind to alter egos--even if you just keep a journal of what you'd like to do through that person. An alter ego is like an outlet. If you don't choose this route, choose another.

It's only human (and healthy) to have some form of creative expression.