Mirror Flashcards

Question

Refer to line 11: “Searching my reaches for what really is”... Do you think that the woman will succeed in her quest in the second line of the second stanza? Give a reason for your answer.

Answer 1

I would say that it is unlikely that she would find truth (what is) within the reflections of the mirror as the poem seems to indicate that whatever she sees will always be mediated or distorted by her own socially constructed ideals of beauty and the expectations/opinions of those around her. Also, the process of ageing is inevitable thus making it impossible for the mirror to represent the everlasting beauty that might be the desired ‘truth’ in question. The woman will not succeed in her quest because the mirror cannot show her anything deeper than her reflection. She is also looking into a mirror to see who she is which shows how the woman thinks that outer beauty is a big part of her identity which isn’t true.

Answer 2

As sources of light (one could also read the connotation of truth/reality into the use of the idea of light), the moon and candles are inconsistent and only illuminate partly. Therefore the mirror sees them as misleading and false. The mirror considers herself to be far more objective, honourable, and faithful in its representation of reality. However, she doesn’t seem 4 to acknowledge the role that the looker’s psychology might have on her ability to do this. The light cast by candles and moons is muted and filtered - hence the reality is not shown. The mirror therefore calls them ‘liars’ because the light casts shadows and doesn’t reveal the full truth.

Answer 3

The words “meditate” and “reflect” reveal a stark contrast between the mirror’s passive observations and the woman’s deeply emotional experience. The mirror’s “meditation” is calm and detached; it simply observes and reflects whatever is in front of it without judgment. Its reflection is straightforward and literal, showing the world exactly as it is. The woman’s interaction with the mirror, however, is far from detached. When she “bends over” and “rewards it with tears and an agitation of hands,” her reflection becomes a moment of intense self-examination, filled with frustration and sorrow as she grapples with aging and identity. Unlike the mirror, her “reflection” is emotional, subjective, and complicated by her feelings. This contrast highlights the mirror as a neutral, unwavering presence while the woman struggles with the changes she sees in herself, emphasising the mirror’s role as an unyielding and emotionless truth-teller.

Answer 4

The woman searches in the mirror for “what she really is” but all she can get from a mirror is her reflection and what she looks like which shows us how much her appearance matters to her.

Answer 5

The old woman has lost her youth. She returns to the lake daily to try to find the beautiful self that she once was. She tries to resist the reality of aging but ageing and death are inevitable and she is not accepting of the reality of her current appearance. Note that a lake is not static and her reflection will be distorted. In Sylvia Plath's Mirror, the words “meditate” and “reflect” reveal a stark contrast between the mirror’s passive observations and the woman’s deeply emotional experience. The mirror’s “meditation” is calm and detached; it simply observes and reflects whatever is in front of it without judgment. Its reflection is straightforward and literal, showing the world exactly as it is. The woman’s interaction with the mirror, however, is far from detached. When she “bends over” and “rewards it with tears and an agitation of hands,” her reflection becomes a moment of intense self-examination, filled with frustration and sorrow as she grapples with aging and identity. Unlike the mirror, her “reflection” is emotional, subjective, and complicated by her feelings. This contrast highlights the mirror as a neutral, unwavering presence while the woman struggles with the changes she sees in herself, emphasising the mirror’s role as an unyielding and emotionless truth-teller.

Answer 6

Yes, men are a part of the reason because we have also been taught that good looks are the way to a mans’ heart and that is why it is so devastating for women to grow old and ugly. Women are judged by their appearances.