Answer:
In Ernest Cline's "Ready Player One," the characters frequently hide their true identities by using avatars in the virtual reality world known as the OASIS. This desire to conceal oneself can be attributed to various reasons. Firstly, Wade Watts, the protagonist, creates the avatar Parzival to escape the harsh realities of his impoverished life in the Stacks. By assuming this confident and skilled hero persona, Wade can avoid feeling vulnerable and insignificant. Secondly, Samantha, known as Art3mis, hides her physical appearance and birthmark behind her avatar to avoid judgment and prejudice. She seeks to be valued for her abilities rather than be judged based on her looks. Lastly, Aech, Wade's friend, conceals her true gender and race through her ambiguous avatar.
Aech, who is actually Helen Harris, an African-American woman, fears that her true identity would affect how others perceive her skills and abilities. By using an avatar, she can be valued for her talents without being subject to bias. Overall, the characters in "Ready Player One" use avatars as a means of escapism, protection from judgment, and an opportunity for reinvention in a virtual world where they can be appreciated for their skills rather than their real-life circumstances.
Explanation: N/A