Mirror

1
Mirror

• This poem is ultimately about a
  process.examining and understanding oneself.
• It is a dark, complex poem which reflects on
  several inter-related themes.
• The search for identity
• Deep personal insecurity
• Fear of old age
• Our obsession with image

The speakers world is empty, bleak, even
fearful. The imagery is disturbing,
startling. Plath uses personification to give
voice to a mirror and a lake. Both are reflective
surfaces. Essentially, the poem explores two
different ways of seeing oneself both of which
are cold and frightening.
2
Two nine-line stanzas

• In the first stanza the speaking voice is a
  mirror.
• Its presented as valuable but lifeless
  silver. It makes clear that for all its
  clarity, (its unmisted by love or dislike) it
  isnt cruel just truthful.
• Nevertheless, the plain, unvarnished truth can
  often be a little harsh, a little unforgiving.
  If this represents Plaths view of herself then
  she judges herself harshly.
• It presents itself as exact, precise,
  emotionless. Whatever it sees, it takes in
  immediately, swallows, then reflects straight
  back to the gazer. What the mirror reflects is
  exactly what it sees. Its incapable of
  airbrushing anything.
• Its like a little god because people worship
  at it. How much time, for example, do you spend
  in front of your mirror?
• The mirror has been reflecting the wall opposite
  for so long it feels almost a part of it.
• Its view of the wall, though, is interrupted by
  night (darkness) and people (faces) gazing
  at themselves. Repitition (over and over)
  heightens the inexorable passage of time.
• Note the ideas here of separation, darkness,
  flickering light, relentless passage of time.

3
Stanza two the speaking voice is a lake.

• This stanza continues to look at the issue of
  image, identity and self-awareness..
• The reflective surface is now a lake, however,
  and this is very different to a mirror. A lake
  has hidden depthswhat lurks beneath may not be
  pleasant.
• The woman bends over the lake, searching for
  who she really is.
• Leaning over a lake is dangerous.unsettlingespec
  ially if you have serious emotional issueswhat
  you begin to discover may be too painful.
• The woman (Plath) turns awayits too much. She
  needs a gentler self assesment
• The candles and moon are metaphors for
  thiscandle light hids a thousand blemishes!
• But this is ultimately unsuccessful and she
  reacts with wringing her hands a gesture of
  anguish (remember Child).

4
Stanza 2.final quatrain

• The mirror and lake both speak here and we
  realise that they are both in fact two aspects of
  the same process.the process of self examination
  and understanding.
• The mirror/lake is important to the woman.
• She revisits it every morningits as though she
  is unable to resist the urge to self examineeach
  morning her face replaces the darkness. But when
  suffering from depression/anxiety, darkness
  (sleep) is often the only time one has any
  respite.
• The final image is particularly frighteningin
  me she has drowned a young girl and in me an old
  woman rises toward her day after day like a
  terrible fish
• On one hand this represents the decay of youth
  and the approach of a horribleold age
• It also likely refers to the idea that Plaths
  own inner turmoil is slowly destroying anything
  young and beautiful in her
• Ultimately, The mirror, lake and woman are all
  one and the same person Plath.

5
Some points to note

• Dominant imagery
• The mirror / The lake
• Metaphors for the process of self perception /
  understanding.
• The candles and moon
• Metaphors for a gentler, more forgiving way of
  seeing oneself.
• The tears and agitation of hands
• Represent the poets inner anguish at what she
  sees of herself.
• The young girl drowned and the old woman rising
  towards her like a terrible fish.
• On one level this represents the decay of yoth
  and the fearful approach of horrible old age
• On a deeper level it suggests that Plaths own
  inner demons (the monstrous old woman) are
  gradually destroying anything youthful,
  beautiful, joyful in her.