Hyacinth Bucket, the hilarious and often delusional character from Keeping Up Appearances, is undoubtedly one of British television’s most memorable comedic figures. With her never-ending desire to impress, her obsession with social status, and her determination to maintain an air of sophistication despite the chaos around her, Hyacinth’s antics are the stuff of comedy gold.

But beneath the layers of her sometimes cringe-worthy behavior, there is something universally relatable about her character. In fact, it could be argued that there’s a little bit of Hyacinth Bucket in all of us.

At first glance, Hyacinth may seem like an exaggeration—her over-the-top attempts to appear refined and her misguided notions of status seem to belong to a character out of a farcical comedy. However, her relentless pursuit of perfection, her fear of judgment, and her need to fit in are all traits that many people can identify with.

While most of us don’t go as far as Hyacinth does in her efforts, her character represents a side of humanity that desires to be seen in the best light possible, often at the expense of authenticity.

One of Hyacinth’s most defining traits is her obsessive need to impress those around her. Whether it’s her neighbors, the local vicar, or even her family, Hyacinth constantly works to create an image of herself as a woman of refinement, class, and sophistication.

She buys expensive, often unnecessary items to elevate her status, and she frets over the smallest details to ensure everything is just right.

In many ways, this desire to impress is something that resonates with all of us. It’s easy to fall into the trap of wanting others to think highly of us, whether through our material possessions, achievements, or social connections.

How many times have we found ourselves buying something we didn’t really need, just to appear more successful or “put together”? Whether it’s a new outfit for an event, the latest tech gadget, or even the car we drive, we all have moments when we care more about how others perceive us than about the actual value of the things we buy.

Like Hyacinth, we often want to be seen as a part of a particular social group, and we may go to great lengths—sometimes unconsciously—to achieve that.

Hyacinth’s relentless attempts to create the perfect image stem from a deep fear of judgment. She worries about being seen as “common” or “lower-class,” and she goes to absurd lengths to avoid being seen in an unflattering light.

For Hyacinth, appearances are everything. Her refusal to acknowledge anything less than perfect is a reflection of her deep insecurities and fear that she might not measure up to society’s expectations.

This fear of judgment is something most people experience at some point in their lives. Whether we admit it or not, many of us are hyper-aware of how others see us. We worry about making mistakes in public, saying the wrong thing, or looking foolish.

Hyacinth’s behavior may be extreme, but her fear of being judged is something we all experience, albeit to a lesser degree. There’s always that moment of hesitation before we post a photo online, check the spelling of an email for the tenth time, or ask a question in a meeting.

These small, everyday actions reveal how much we care about how others perceive us. Hyacinth’s desperation to control how she’s seen mirrors that universal human anxiety.

Hyacinth may be frazzled and out of touch with reality, but she never lets anyone see it. No matter how chaotic or embarrassing her situations become, she remains committed to appearing in control.

Whether she’s hosting a dinner party that’s falling apart or trying to impress the vicar with her impossible standards, Hyacinth’s pride in maintaining her image is central to her character. Even when things go awry, she desperately tries to salvage her dignity by pretending that everything is just as it should be.

This need to appear in control is another common thread that connects us all to Hyacinth. How many times have we tried to act like everything is going smoothly when in reality, we’re barely holding it together?

We might put on a brave face when our personal or professional lives are in turmoil, making sure to keep up appearances even when we’re struggling. Whether it’s at work, in social situations, or in our personal relationships, there’s often pressure to appear calm and collected. Hyacinth’s refusal to show vulnerability is an exaggerated version of the way many of us hide our true feelings in favor of projecting confidence.

At the core of Hyacinth’s character is her obsession with appearances. She believes that the right house, the right car, and the right social circle will elevate her in the eyes of others. Her constant desire to appear perfect, both in her home and her personal life, highlights her belief that success is defined by external validation.

In her world, appearances are the most important measure of worth.

While most of us don’t take it to the extreme that Hyacinth does, there’s no denying that we live in a world where appearances often matter more than we’d like to admit. Social media has made it easier than ever to curate our lives to showcase only the best parts, leaving out the messy, imperfect moments.

Like Hyacinth, we can become trapped in a cycle of comparing ourselves to others and measuring our success by superficial standards. The desire to fit into a specific mold or be seen as having “arrived” is something that nearly everyone grapples with, even if we don’t always recognize it.

Despite her many flaws, Hyacinth is a character that audiences love and relate to. Her comedic missteps remind us of our own imperfections, and her relentless pursuit of social approval offers a humorous but poignant reflection of the lengths we sometimes go to maintain our sense of belonging.

Hyacinth is a character driven by a desire to be seen, accepted, and respected—a desire that lies at the heart of the human experience.

There’s a bit of Hyacinth in all of us because, in one way or another, we all long to be seen in the best light possible. Whether it’s through our actions, our possessions, or our carefully curated image, we’re all trying to navigate the delicate balance of staying true to ourselves while also seeking validation from others.

It’s this universal need that makes Hyacinth Bucket not just a comedic character, but a mirror of the quirks and insecurities we all face in our own lives.