The poem “Mirror,” by Sylvia Plath, portrays the difficult truth in relation to aging. The poem is told in the point of view of a mirror belonging to an aging woman. The mirror “[is] silver and exact,” with “no preconceptions” (1). It reflects only the truth, real images without distortion. The mirror has been a part of the woman’s life ever since she was young, sitting across her pink, speckled walls acting like “the eye of a little god” (5). As the woman ages, she seems to be in frustration with her appearance, seeking relief by looking at “liars, the candles or the moon” (12). This symbolizes the woman’s attempt to look at things that will reflect back an image she desires, a fake image versus reality. The mirror, however, only gives her the …show more content…
While real life, mirrors are inanimate objects, the author uses personification. In this way, Plath allows us to see the story as the mirror sees it. Considering that a mirror only sees the truth, we are also given a story without alterations. In the first stanza the mirror tells the reader what it is. In the first verse the mirror tells the reader “I am silver and exact. I have no preconceptions” (1). Further, in the third and fourth verse the mirror tells the reader that it is “unmisted by love or dislike. I am not cruel, only truthful” acting as “the eye of a little god” (3-5). Through the mirror’s description of itself, the reader learns that this is an object or being that can only reflect back what is shown. The mirror gives an unbiased reflection of reality, not blinded by love or fueled by dislike. Through the line “the eye of a little god,” Plath uses imagery to show us how truthful and observing the mirror is (5). It sees and reflects everything like a god, and only shows the reality. Although the mirror never explicitly says it is a mirror, Plath allows us to infer the object’s identity through diction such as “silver,” “four-cornered,” and “reflect” (1, 5,
Mirrors are first introduced in part one of the novel where Clarisse is describes as a mirror by Montag. Also presented by Granger towards the end of the novel, the mirror is a symbol of the lacking self-reflection but also it cure. Mirrors reflect a perfect image of a person back at them – an image that is neither tarnished nor beautified. Mirror here are a symbol of seeing within one’s soul in pursuit of rebirth, and are a tool to be used in the search what has gone terribly wrong in such an empty society. In a society that lives without living, thinking or feeling like Montag’s looking into a mirror ma spark a thought, and a thought may spark that internal rebellion. Furthermore, metaphorical mirrors are of equal significance when understanding this symbol. Clarisse is Montag’s inner mirror; she reflects the personality and life of Montag back at him, allowing him to learn and question what he sees. Montag is also Faber’s mirror – he reflects Faber’s recent emptiness and his cowardice at not attempting release society from its suffering. Mirrors are a great symbol of self-actualization that leads to rebirth in the novel Fahrenheit
In the short story “Initiation” author Sylvia Plath suggests that conformity, although the societal norm, is not always as grand as it is made out to be, while also suggesting that even though conformity typically hinders one’s self growth, there are times when the fear of conforming can make one’s sense of self stronger. These two ideas together show that Plath uses this short story to convey the message that even though conformity is not inherently a positive thing, it can drive a person to look in on themselves and develop a unique identity. Plath uses symbolism, and character introspection to assert this idea.
There is no shortage of media encouraging adolescents to ‘be themselves’, promoting self-worth regardless as to what others think. While many may be fed this message throughout music and film, rarely ever is it conveyed to actually have a lasting effect on one’s personal views quite like Sylvia Plath’s “Initiation”. Although formulaic, Plath’s uniquely optimistic short story warns against an obsession with belonging, and explores the importance of individuality through the protagonist Millicent Arnold’s gradual character development, from a self-conscious teenage girl to a stronger and more confident individual.
It tends to be the trend for women who have had traumatic childhoods to be attracted to men who epitomize their emptiness felt as children. Women who have had unaffectionate or absent fathers, adulterous husbands or boyfriends, or relatives who molested them seem to become involved in relationships with men who, instead of being the opposite of the “monsters” in their lives, are the exact replicas of these ugly men. Sylvia Plath’s poem “Daddy” is a perfect example of this unfortunate trend. In this poem, she speaks directly to her dead father and her husband who has been cheating on her, as the poem so indicates.
Baldwin states that "mirrors can only lie," because they only reflect the surface of people instead of revealing the deep truth.
Two of the most popular poets of the 19th and 20th centuries are Emily Dickinson and Sylvia Plath, respectively. These women were born nearly one hundred years apart, but their writing is strikingly similar, especially through the use of the speaker. In fact, in Sylvia Plath’s poem “Daddy”, she writes about her father and compares him to domineering figures, such as Adolf Hitler, a teacher, and a vampire; and in Emily Dickinson’s poem “She dealt her pretty words like blades—“, she talks about bullies and how they affect a person’s life—another domineering figure. Despite being born in different centuries, Emily Dickinson and Sylvia Plath are parallel in a multitude of ways, such as their choice in story, their choice for themes, and their choice of and as a narrator.
“One of the greatest regrets in life is being what others would want you to be, rather than being yourself.”- Shannon L. Alder, American author. Even with all the temptation and pressure we feel just to fit in today's society, or to be normal, it's crucial that you hold on to your passions, goals, dreams, values, and to hold on to yourself. Being yourself is very hard to do especially in today’s society. Such as the short story “Initiation” by Sylvia Plath.
All three novels parallel in respect to the image of mirrors, and the obvious implications of mirrors and their ability to reflect their observer. In Frankenstein, the monster looks into a pool and in relating the incident to Victor, says "when I became fully convinced that I was in reality the monster that I am, I was filled with the bitterest sensations of despondence and mortification" (76). Likewise, Jane Eyre views herself in a looking-glass and sees that her reflection is "colder and darker in that visionary hollow than in reality" (26). Eliot's Maggie Tulliver is so ashamed of herself that she refuses to look at who she is and inverts her mirror, thus proclaiming that her reflection, as she views it with...
“At one time looking at her was like looking at a mirror” (pg.2) This simile shows how insecure Alice is with herself and finds comfort looking at her sister remembering that they used to look identical. She finds Jenny’s body more familiar than her own. The mirror symbolizes the way she interacts with everyone throughout the course of the story for the way she views herself. She can 't come to a conclusion of who she is on her own so she looks to others to tell her, until she finds Mr. Jarred. He reassures her self doubts and she evolves with satisfaction and
The highly recognized female novelist and poet, Sylvia Plath, lived a hard and tragic life. Plath was diagnosed with depression, a mood disorder that causes consistent feelings of sadness, at a very young age that made her life complicated in many ways. The battle continued on when she was diagnosed with severe depression later on in life which contributed to her death. Sylvia Plath was a very successful novelist and poet in the thirty short years of her life, however, the achievements were not enough to mask her depression battle that ran and ended her life.
The author applies sight and personification to accentuate the mirror’s roles. The declaimer of the poem says “I am silver and exact [and] whatever I see I swallow” (1, 20). The purpose of these devices is to convey the position of the mirror in the poem. As an inanimate object, the mirror is incapable of consuming anything but the appearances of entities. Furthermore, the glass’ role accentuates an inner mirror, the human mirror which does not forget instances of misery and contentment. According to Freedman, the mimicking image emulated by the mirror elicits “… a look for oneself inside” as observed from the life of the elderly woman in the sonnet (153). Moreover, as the woman looks into the lake, she commemorates her appealing and attractive and pleasant figure as a young girl. As time passes, the inevitability of old age knocks on the door of the woman, readily waiting to change the sterling rapturous lady perceived by many. One’s appearance can change; it is up to an individual to embrace it or reject it.
The Cold War period allowed for new understandings into the various “Ways of Thinking”, which helped shape the societal paradigms of the era. These revelations in to the new “Ways of Thinking” is evidenced through Sylvia Plath’s poems, “Daddy”, “The Applicant” and “Morning Song”, and John F. Kennedy’s speech, “Ich Bin Ein Berliner” (1963). The composers are effectively able to reflect the “Ways of Thinking” of the period, such as the scientific, religious, philosophical and economic paradigms, in their compositions through various literary techniques.
Every time I look into a mirror I check my hair, maybe inspect my teeth to see if I do not have food wedged up my tooth I would not want people to observe as I smile. That is pretty much the reason I use a mirror. Oh wait, I also utilize one as I shave. That is it. I did not believe there could be a more profound way of looking at ones reflection. Henry Miller’s The Tropic Of Capricorn changed my view of who I was actually looking at. Imagine reading something so powerful it made you question the meaning on why you and specifically you were given life on this earth and why you were given the specific life you are living and what will eventually turn out to be your legacy? If I have your head spinning I apologize but that was the same reaction
Sylvia Plath uses a diverse array of stylistic devices in "Lady Lazarus," among them allusion,
save his life, but he died in November of 1940, when Sylvia was just eight