The passage below is taken from the chapter "On the Face of It": "On the face of things, the world appears bright and hopeful, like a freshly painted canvas. But beneath the varnish lies a weary old house, its walls cracked with the silence of forgotten promises. The author uses the image of a mirror to show how we often see ourselves reflected in the outward glow of society, while the inner truth remains concealed. Which of the following best describes the central theme of the passage?"