Mirror - Poem Analysis

Summary

This video script offers a deep analysis of Sylvia Plath's poem 'Mirror,' exploring its themes of self-perception, aging, and mortality. The poem is examined from the perspective of the mirror, which claims to be objective and truthful, yet the narrative reveals the complex relationship between appearance and reality. The mirror's reflection is shown to significantly impact the woman's perception of herself, challenging the mirror's claim to objectivity. The analysis invites viewers to contemplate the power of reflection and its influence on identity.

Takeaways

• 📜 The poem 'Mirror' by Sylvia Plath is analyzed from the perspective of the mirror itself, which claims to be objective, honest, and straightforward.
• 📚 Sylvia Plath was an American writer known for her struggle with depression and her untimely death by suicide at the age of 36.
• 🔍 The mirror is personified as having human traits, such as speaking and meditating, which raises questions about its claimed objectivity.
• 💬 The mirror's self-description as 'silver and exact' with 'no preconceptions' suggests it reflects reality without bias, but this is later questioned.
• 🤔 The mirror's claim to be 'the eye of a little God' implies omniscience, yet the poem hints at a potential subjectivity, especially with the mention of the mirror's 'heart'.
• 👵 The aging process and its emotional impact on the woman who uses the mirror are central themes, suggesting the mirror's influence on self-perception.
• 🌅 The transformation of the mirror into a lake symbolizes a deeper reflection, where the woman seeks to understand her true self beyond mere appearance.
• 😢 The woman's reaction to her reflection, marked by tears and agitation, indicates dissatisfaction and a struggle with the reality of aging.
• 🔦 The woman turns to 'liars' like candles or the moon for a more flattering light, contrasting with the mirror's claim to provide an honest reflection.
• 🔑 The mirror's importance to the woman signifies how it shapes her perception of herself, challenging the mirror's supposed objectivity.
• 📉 The poem's structure and mood contribute to a contemplative and melancholic tone, reflecting on themes of appearance, reality, and mortality.

Q & A

Who is Sylvia Plath and what is her significance in literature?

Sylvia Plath was an American writer who lived from 1932 to 1963. She is well-known for her poetry and prose, and her work often explores themes of depression, which she suffered from throughout her adult life. Plath is a significant figure in literature, having won the Pulitzer Prize for her poetry collection 'The Bell Jar'.

What is the poem 'Mirror' by Sylvia Plath about?

The poem 'Mirror' by Sylvia Plath is a reflection on the nature of self-perception and the relationship between appearance and identity. It is written from the perspective of a mirror, which claims to be objective and truthful, yet the poem explores the complexities and potential deceptions of self-image.

How does the mirror in the poem 'Mirror' describe itself?

The mirror in the poem describes itself as 'silver and exact' with 'no preconceptions,' suggesting that it is a neutral and precise reflector of reality. It claims to be 'not cruel, only truthful,' like 'the eye of a little God,' indicating its role as an all-seeing entity.

What is the significance of the mirror claiming to be 'objective, honest, and straightforward'?

The mirror's claim to be 'objective, honest, and straightforward' sets up a central theme of the poem, which is the exploration of whether such qualities are possible in the reflection of self. It raises questions about the nature of truth and objectivity in self-perception and the potential for a mirror to distort or clarify one's self-image.

What is the metaphor of the mirror being 'the eye of a little God'?

The metaphor of the mirror being 'the eye of a little God' likens the mirror to an omniscient observer, one that sees everything without bias or emotion. It suggests the mirror's role in providing an unfiltered view of reality, reflecting back the true essence of what is presented to it.

How does the poem use personification to convey the mirror's perspective?

The poem uses personification by attributing human traits to the mirror, such as the ability to speak and have thoughts. This allows the mirror to express its own perspective on its function and the nature of the reflections it provides, creating a dialogue between the mirror and the woman who uses it.

What is the significance of the mirror's claim that it has 'no heart'?

The mirror's claim that it has 'no heart' is significant because it suggests an absence of emotion and subjectivity, which are typically associated with the heart. This reinforces the mirror's role as a supposedly impartial reflector of reality, free from personal feelings or biases.

What does the woman in the poem seek when she bends over the mirror or lake?

The woman in the poem seeks a deeper understanding of her true self when she bends over the mirror or lake. She is searching for more than just her appearance; she is looking for her identity and the essence of who she is beyond what is visible on the surface.

How does the poem explore the theme of aging?

The poem explores the theme of aging through the woman's interaction with the mirror and the lake, reflecting on how her appearance changes over time. The aging process is portrayed as inevitable and somewhat tragic, with the woman's youth being 'drowned' and an old woman emerging in her place.

What is the significance of the woman turning to 'liars' like candles or the moon?

The woman turning to 'liars' like candles or the moon signifies her dissatisfaction with the unflattering truth presented by the mirror. These sources of light are described as liars because they can create a more flattering or deceptive image, in contrast to the mirror's claim of truthfulness.

How does the poem's structure contribute to its themes and mood?

The poem's structure, with two stanzas of nine lines each, contributes to its themes and mood by creating a sense of balance and reflection. The clear and direct sentences, along with the first-person perspective of the mirror, reinforce the poem's contemplative and reflective tone, while the melancholic ending emphasizes the themes of aging and mortality.

Outlines

00:00

📜 'Mirror' by Sylvia Plath: An Exploration of Objectivity and Perception

This paragraph introduces the poem 'Mirror' by Sylvia Plath, an American writer known for her raw and honest portrayal of depression and life's struggles. The video aims to analyze the poem from the perspective of the mirror itself, which claims to be objective, honest, and straightforward. The mirror's personification is highlighted, as it describes its function without preconceptions or emotional influence. The mirror's self-description as 'silver and exact' and its comparison to 'the eye of a little God' suggest its supposed omniscience. However, the video raises questions about the mirror's true nature, hinting at the possibility that it might not be as objective as it claims, especially when it mentions being a part of its heart, which contradicts the idea of being purely factual.

05:00

🌌 The Mirror's Reflection on Truth and the Woman's Quest for Identity

The second paragraph delves deeper into the poem's exploration of the mirror's role in reflecting truth and the woman's search for her true identity. The mirror transforms from a flat surface to a lake, symbolizing depth and the potential for deeper self-discovery. The woman's interaction with the mirror is portrayed as a universal experience, linked to themes of mortality and the societal emphasis on appearance. Her dissatisfaction with her reflection and the turning to 'Liars' like candles or the moon for a more flattering image contrasts with the mirror's claim of truthfulness. The woman's emotional response to her reflection, marked by tears and agitation, underscores the impact of the mirror's 'truth' on her perception of herself and her aging process.

10:02

🕊 Aging and the Unsettling Truth: The Mirror's Continuous Reflection

The final paragraph concludes the analysis by focusing on the themes of aging and the mirror's continuous reflection of the woman's changing appearance. The use of the word 'drowned' to describe the woman's immersion in her reflection and the emergence of an old woman from the mirror symbolize the irreversible passage of time and the loss of youth. The simile of aging as 'a terrible fish' conveys the uncontrollable and slippery nature of time, emphasizing the melancholic and contemplative mood of the poem. The video summarizes the poem's structure, mood, and themes, which include the dichotomy between outer appearance and inner self, the impact of aging on identity, and the unsettling reality of mortality.

Keywords

💡Mirror

The term 'Mirror' is central to the video's theme as it represents both a literal object and a metaphorical tool for self-reflection. In the poem 'Mirror' by Sylvia Plath, the mirror is personified, claiming to be 'objective, honest, and straightforward.' It is used to explore the concept of self-perception and the tension between external appearance and internal reality. The mirror's role in the poem is to reflect the woman's aging process and her emotional response to it, as seen in lines like 'I am important to her she comes and goes each morning.'

💡Sylvia Plath

Sylvia Plath is an American writer known for her deeply personal and confessional style. The video discusses her life, mentioning her struggle with depression and untimely death, which adds a layer of context to the poem 'Mirror.' Plath's experiences likely influenced her writing, making the themes of self-reflection and identity particularly poignant. Her work, including winning the Pulitzer Prize, establishes her as a significant figure in American literature.

💡Objectivity

Objectivity in the context of the video refers to the mirror's claimed ability to present an unbiased reflection of reality. The mirror in Plath's poem asserts, 'I am silver and exact I have no preconceptions whatever,' suggesting it reflects the truth without distortion. However, the video questions this claim, hinting that the mirror might not be as neutral as it presents itself, especially considering the emotional impact it has on the woman in the poem.

💡Personification

Personification is a literary device where human qualities are attributed to non-human entities. In the poem, the mirror is personified, speaking in the first person and claiming characteristics like being 'silver and exact.' This device allows the mirror to express its supposed objectivity and to interact with the woman in a way that reflects her inner turmoil and the passage of time.

💡Aging

Aging is a key theme in the poem and video, symbolized by the transformation of the woman's reflection in the mirror. The video discusses how the mirror reflects the woman's aging process, as she 'drowns a young girl' and 'an old woman rises toward her day after day.' This theme is universal, touching on the inevitability of time's passage and its effects on self-perception and identity.

💡Metaphor

Metaphor is used in the poem to compare the mirror to 'the eye of a little God,' suggesting omniscience and all-seeing capabilities. This metaphor enhances the mirror's claim to truth and objectivity. However, the video suggests that this metaphor may be flawed, as the mirror's reflection of the woman's aging process evokes strong emotions, challenging its supposed objectivity.

💡Self-Perception

Self-perception is the process of how an individual sees and evaluates themselves, which is a central theme in the video. The mirror serves as a tool for the woman to view and understand herself, but the video questions whether this reflection truly represents her inner self or is merely a surface-level appearance. The woman's reaction to her reflection, 'tears and an agitation of hands,' indicates a complex relationship between self-perception and self-identity.

💡Mortality

Mortality is the awareness of the inevitability of death and the finite nature of life. The video connects the theme of aging to mortality, as the woman's reflection in the mirror serves as a reminder of her transient existence. The use of the word 'drowned' in relation to the young girl and the rising of the old woman symbolize the passage of life and the acceptance of death.

💡Contemplation

Contemplation is the act of thinking deeply about a subject, which is evident in the mirror's reflection on the opposite wall and the woman's introspection as she ages. The video describes the mirror as meditating, 'I meditate on the opposite wall,' suggesting a state of deep thought. This contemplative mood is mirrored in the woman's interaction with her reflection, as she seeks to understand her identity and the passage of time.

💡Identity

Identity is a fundamental concept in the video, referring to the sense of self or individuality. The mirror's reflection is central to the woman's understanding of her identity, as she seeks to find 'what she really is' through her appearance. The video explores the tension between the woman's outer appearance and her inner self, questioning whether the mirror can truly reflect her true identity or if it only shows a superficial aspect.

Highlights

Introduction of Sylvia Plath's life and her struggle with depression.

Analysis of the poem 'Mirror' from the perspective of the mirror itself.

The mirror's claim to objectivity and truthfulness in reflecting reality.

Personification of the mirror as a speaker with human traits.

The mirror's metaphorical comparison to the 'eye of a little God'.

The mirror's observation of the woman and its impact on her perception of self.

The transformation of the mirror into a lake, symbolizing depth and reflection.

The woman's search for her true self through the mirror's reflection.

The woman's dissatisfaction with her reflection, turning to 'liars' like candles and moonlight.

The mirror's role in shaping the woman's identity and perception of aging.

The mirror's reflection of the woman's tears and agitation as a reaction to aging.

The continuous and unstoppable process of aging depicted through the mirror.

The mirror's portrayal of the woman's transformation from a young girl to an old woman.

The shocking simile of aging as 'a terrible fish', emphasizing its uncontrollable nature.

The poem's structure with two stanzas of nine lines each, reflecting the mirror's clarity and directness.

The melancholic and contemplative mood of the poem, reflecting on appearance, reality, and mortality.

Final thoughts on the mirror's role in providing truth versus shaping perception and identity.

Transcripts

hello and welcome to another trius video

in today's video we're going to be

analyzing the poem Mirror by Sylvia

Plath so firstly a bit about our poet

Sylvia Plath was an American writer who

lived between 1932 and

1963 unfortunately she suffered from

depression for most of her adult life

and she died by Suicide at the age of

36 she is a very famous writer very

wellknown and she even won the P Sur

prise mirror so the title is very simple

it's just one word it states what it is

um and well the mirror States what it is

as we're going to see this poem is

written from The Mirror's perspective

and from the very first line this is

what the mirror claims to be the mirror

claims to be objective honest and

straightforward and so this title mimics

that because um it's just sort of

stating the truth we are going to assess

whether this is actually true later on

whether a mirror is so objective honest

and straightforward but that is what the

title this is what the mirror is

claiming to

be I am silver and exact I have no

preconceptions whatever I see I swallow

immediately just as it is unmisted by

love or dislike I am not cruel only

truthful the eye of a little God for

cornered most of the time I meditate on

the opposite wall it is pink with

speckles I have looked at it so long I

think it is a part of my heart but it

flickers faces and darkness separate us

over and

over so our first stanza we start off

with I am silver and exact this is

personification um because the mirror is

being given the human trait of speaking

so this is from The Mirror's perspective

it's a first person perspective and the

mirror claims to be silver and exact

literal and precise claims to have no

preconceptions just shows you what your

true reflection is in terms of the

structure of this line notice the short

and simple sentences it's a statement of

fact just as a mirror States the truth

of one's appearance in no uncertain

terms whatever I see I swallow

immediately once again personification

of following just as it is um notice the

injam in these lines unmisted by love or

dislike so unmisted meaning uninformed

or unswayed by love or dislike it's not

that the speaker um or the mirror shows

you what you want to see or what you

don't want to see it just shows you what

is I am not cruel only truthful so the

mirror uses this word cruel which I

think is quite interesting because if

you have to say that you're not cruel

then it probably hints that sometimes a

mirror can be perceived that way as

being cruel or the image that It propels

Forward can be seen as cruel so if the

mirror has to state that it is not cruel

do you understand what I mean it's like

perhaps it's um hinting to towards some

sort of perception of a

mirror the eye of a little God this is a

metaphor and the mirror says that he

basically or the mirror Compares itself

to this God if you think about um God

God has the connotation of being all

knowing being omniscient and so this U

mirror claims to be all knowing and

seeing everything just reflecting it

back at you full corn it that could

reference like the um you know a mirror

being like square or rectangular or also

the fact that it shows you absolutely

everything about your appearance that

it's all four

corners most of the time I meditate on

the opposite wall still personification

that the speaker or the mirror is

meditating on the opposite wall so

that's points to a mirror is not used

all the time it's usually sitting on a

wall and only when a person actually

goes to view thems in the mirror is the

mirror actually you know active or doing

its job

but also think about if it's on the

opposite wall the mirror is observing

and we're going to have the introduction

of a Woman Soon um in this in this

context and what she sees in the mirror

and so this mirror on the opposite wall

is actually seeing what the woman is

doing every single day is noticing and

observing day in and day out it is pink

with speckles so he notices the wall

that he looks at the mirror and you see

that he that the mirror notices the

details so that's important as well

because if it notices the details of the

wall then it's going to notice the

details of the woman and going to

reflect that back at her I looked at it

so long I think it is a part of my heart

this is a really interesting line

because to me this is the first point

where we're going to cast doubt on the

fact that the mirror is perhaps not as

objective honest and straightforward as

it might seem because it says that um

the mirror claims that it's a part of

his heart or her heart or its heart um

but if you have a heart then perhaps you

can't really be objective you can't

really just show the truth if you have a

heart because a heart signifies some

sort of subjective emotion that you

possess so this is an interesting one

and it casts a doubt on whether the

mirror is actually so honest and

straightforward as it as it claims to be

if it has a heart how objective can you

possibly be but it flickers faces and

darkness separate us over and over so

faces and darkness um you can see this

literally in terms of like you know the

lights going out or you're turning off

the lights at night the woman's no

longer looking in the mirror um you can

also think about like faces in terms of

other people sort of walking by and this

is what separates um the speaker or the

mirror and the woman but we can also see

this in another way that faces and

darkness maybe separate us from the

truth because remember the mirror is

claiming to be the provider of

Truth

now I am a lake a woman bends over me

searching my reaches for what she really

is then she turns to those Liars the

candles or the moon I see her back and

reflected Faithfully she rewards me with

tears and an agitation of hands I am

important to her she comes and goes each

morning it is her face that replaces the

darkness in me she has drowned a young

girl and in me an Old Woman Who Rises

toward her day after day like a terrible

fish so in the first answer we had the

mirror sort of this 2D idea and now

we're going to have the introduction or

the transformation of the mirror into a

lake um which is a more 3D idea and this

is going to mirror P unintended but also

intended this is going to mirror how the

woman finds meaning and identity deep

into her reflection so the mirror claims

to show the woman as she is but this

woman is going to actually seek deeper

understanding into herself and perceive

more um with the reflection that she

gets from the mirror so now I'm a lake

transformation of the mirror the

reflective lake is now going to mirror

or reflect the Aging of the woman a

woman bends over me notice the

indefinite article of a this could be

any person then this is a sort of

universal poem which links to the

universal theme of mortality that we're

going to discuss later on a woman bends

over me Bend you can think of this

literally like she's bending over to see

herself in the reflection of the lake or

you can think about it like bending is

usually to show like a sign of um like

you

are praising someone or respecting

someone you are bowing to something and

this can show how in our society we Bend

to or bow to appearance it's really

important to us searching my reaches for

what she truly is and my question to you

is can you really see who you truly are

in a mirror or reflective surface so I

would say perhaps not because that's

your appearance you can see but who you

truly are is perhaps more deep than what

you see in a

mirror then she turns to those Liars the

candles or the moon so she's clearly not

happy with how her reflection looks and

this can show how she's preoccupied with

her appearance and with aging and she

doesn't like perhaps what she sees in

the lake and so what does she do she

turns to in this Mir calls them Liars

the candles or the moon because the

candles and the moon they don't

illuminate your whole face they only

give off a glow they can delude your

perception of appearance and this is

exactly what the opposite is the

opposite of what the mirror claims to

be I see her back and reflect it

Faithfully the mirror says the mirror

will continue to reflect an accurate

depiction of who the woman is she

rewards me with tears and an agitation

of hands this is ironic because she's um

the the use of the word reward signifies

something positive like that there's

something joyous or um happy or some

sort of prize and then we see what the

reward is though it's completely

unexpected it's tears and an agitation

of hands this is an upset reaction to

the aging process I am important to her

I is what the mirror represents and what

does the mirror represent think about it

is it outer beauty or is it your true

self she comes and goes notice the sorry

no just the S the full stop in the

middle of the line there just

emphasizing this very simple truth that

I am important to her that what she sees

in the mirror is really significant in

her life and shapes her perspective of

her life so do you see my question to

you that I posed earlier about whether a

mirror is truly objective and honest and

straightforward because I am important

to her shows that what the mirror is

giving off actually shapes the woman's

perception of herself so think about

that she comes and goes so so she always

returns to the mirror she gravitates

towards the the sort of inner verticom

truth of her being and what she's

obsessed with each morning it is her

face that replaces The Darkness Darkness

is the sort of default state of the

mirror so every morning she comes there

and replaces the darkness in me she has

drowned a young girl so the drown the

use of drowned is an illusion is a

reference to the to the lake image

introduced in the first line of the

stanza and so this speaks about how um

when she first started looking in the

mirror maybe she looked like a young

girl and all of her efforts have sort of

been put into this mirror she spends so

much time looking at looking in this

mirror she's put um you know drowned

sort of signifies like an overwhelming

sense she's put an overwhelming sense of

her of who she is into the mirror and

she's drowned this young girl and what

has happened and and in me an old woman

Rises toward her day after day and so

this shows the aging process how the

woman has changed her appearance has

changed that she becomes an old woman

Rises towards her day after day this is

like day after day continuous and that

links to the enjam in these two lines as

well the runon lines aging is an ongoing

process that cannot be stopped or

contained like a terrible fish um and

this is a really um shocking simile to

end off with um to show that how the

youth has left her and how the aging

process is coming along if you think

about a fish a fish is something like

slippery so aging happens really quickly

is sort of uncontrollable it also links

to the lake imagery and it's a terrible

feeling to be aging this is what the

speaker really tries to bring across

it's this

unavoidable process of Aging which is

truly in the most like sort of simple

terms is

terrible so I want you to think about

how the mirror perhaps is not exactly

what it claims to be because it reflects

an everchanging personal being and it

shifts and becomes alive or interpretive

when the woman values its opinion by

glancing at her

appearance the structure of the poem we

have two stanzas of nine lines each in

German in the last two lines as we spoke

about is this process of Aging they are

clear and direct sentences short and

mostly simple this is what the miror

claims to be straightforward first

person perspective of the mirror the toe

and the mood we can call it at the end

it's melancholic but throughout the poem

we can say it's reflective contemplative

the mirror is also gives off this tone

of Detachment informative sincere and at

the end it's quite intense the themes of

the message is the outer versus the

inner self aging and its effect on us um

it is disconcerting appearance versus

reality and it's link to our identity

and death and

mortality thank you so much for watching

I hope that you found this video helpful

please remember to like And subscribe

and I'll see you in the next one