SPECULATION My own theory about Kylo Ren

I guess the shattering of the mask is not an indicator for physical changes but rather psychological changes. I have different theories what the mask shattering scene is all about.

a) Kylo has not fully embraced the Dark Side of the force after murdering his dad in TFA. He doesn't feel stronger after killing Solo he actually feels weaker and feels like he went too far. The mask reminds him of what he has done to his father and that he can never go back to where he was before he put on the mask.
b) Snoke is forcing Kylo to wear the mask when he is around other members of the first order. He wants to keep Kylo's heritage a secret since he is the son of the leader of the Resistance. In the relationship of Snoke/Kylo the Supreme Leader is clearly the dominant part and Kylo is frustrated because he has to obey his master. In his mind the mask is a symbol for the rules forced upon him by his master.
c) Kylo is a double agent. He has to do horrible things in order to win Snoke's trust including patricide and wiping out the Jedi academy. He us stil Ben Solo and only playing the character of Kylo Ren. This sacrifice that he has to make, being hated by his loved ones in order to protect them (like Snape in HP) is putting him under a lot of stress. Ben shatters the mask in a moment of frustration as it represents his fake persona Kylo Ren.
d) Kylo feels like he can never live up to his idol Vader. In his frustration of being only a second class Vader imitator he destroys his mask as the mask itself only represents an imitation of his grandfathers helmet.
e) After his defeat on Starkillerbase Kylo has been degraded to a product tester. He's currently working on two seperate projects, testing helmets and testing elevators. He's aspiring to become employee of the month and subsequently win back Snoke's trust. In a moment of genius he decides to combine both lines of testing as seen in the trailer...

 

Kylo Ren is no longer Ben Solo in my opinion. Ben would have never killed his father. Kylo has embraced the dark side, so much so, that he is on a path to kill his mother as well, but because he is lost, he can't fully make that decision as depicted in the trailer, but that doesn't condone what he has done, or plans to do, I haven't seen this film yet, if they indeed redeem this monster for the crimes he has committed, I hope it's played out well. I am also hoping that Rey manipulates Kylo in believing she will join him, and at the last moment, reveal her true intention to extinguish the galaxy of this monster so many have embraced so lovingly.

 

Snape killed Dumbledore and still ended up being a good guy. Everything's possible as long as the bad things Kylo has done were intended to prevent even worse things. Maybe we will see Kylo's actions in TFA in a different light once the trilogy is over.

Ren: I'm being torn apart. I want to be free of this pain. I know what I have to do [....to completely win Snokes trust...] but I don't know if I have the strength to do it [...and kill my own father...]. Will you help me [...by making this choice easier for me...]?
Han: Yes. Anything

Keep in mind how Snoke is always bringing up Kylo's "final test" and in the end of TFA, he agrees to finish Kylo's training after he murdered Han. This could be similar to Snape killing Dumbledore to prove his loyalty to Voldemort. I can still see some room for redemption.

 

Kylo is like a schizophrenic EMO Sithchild, one minute he is having trouble submitting to the light, the next minute he is on a war path to kill his mum. Kylo needs serious help and the manipulative company he keeps won't do him any good. I hope Kylo is indeed redeemed, but I hope its with the sacrifice of his own life sort of like Anakin at the end of ROTJ. I will never forgive him for killing one of my childhood heroes, killing LST in cold blood, force pushing Rey into a tree till she passed out, or savagely and brutally taking out Finn. I don't understand why many choose to see good in him when he has committed so much harm against those that fight for freedom. If he does turn to the light, I will always view him as an antihero.

 

Kylo shattering the mask, I argue is great characterization as it is him shattering his insecurities. The one thing I will commend Abrams and TFA is how they chose not to make Kylo like Vader. Rather, a guy burdened by the legacy of Vader and the Skywalkers. For granted, I wished the writing on Kylo was a lot better and he wasn't a victim of the plot. But I will take what I can get.

And really, unlike Abrams, I hope that Rian Johnson can really take Kylo Ren into some new territory. That yeah, emotionally conflicted he might be; his competence factor increases tenfold. To where in his attempt to forge himself and not be shackled by his legacy; he ironically becomes like his Legacy. In other words, he becomes like Vader the more he acts less like Vader.

 

I see him wearing the mask as two-fold, I agree with OP in that he's emulating his grandfather, but its also a mask to disguise the inner conflict he feels. In a cerebral way, the mask may help him support the notion he is evil, while simultaneously hiding the shame and confusion he has by being pulled toward the light.

Or Snoke just stresses him out so much, he breaks out, and doesn't want storm troopers snickering and pointing at him. JK