Sylvia Plath’s poem Mirror is an objectively serious poem which reveals the similarities between poems and the obsessive interest in the truth of reflections and the unhealthy dissatisfaction resulting from dwelling too long on an “exact” image of the present. Plath uses interesting perspective, significant structure, and deep metaphors to also illustrate the similarity between the truthful qualities of poets and mirrors.
The use of first person “I” in the poem Mirror by Sylvia Plath gives an intimate perspective and reveals the mirror’s unbiased thoughts. This personified mirror speaking in first person reflects an objective outlook on life from the perspective of a detached observer. Like the mirror’s reflection, a poet must also show a clear truth in poetry. The mirror and reflection are metaphors representing the absolute truth of present realities which poets explore and release into the world. The mirror is “unmisted” by prejudice human “preconceptions” and reveals “only” the “truthful” aspects of the world directly in front of it. The mirror’s attitudes on life are like a poet’s in that they may show a true observation which common people do not wish or are unable to see. Poetry can cut through and unlock social barriers. Though an appearance of a person or situation may be viewed as negative, through a different lens of vision it may then be found to have positive effects. Unlike poetry, mirrors only reflect the present and are unable to predict the future appearance of the area being reflected.
In the second stanza the speaker changes its physical form into a “lake” from a “mirror”. The poem is divided by a focus on the mirror itself and the woman who interacts with her reflection in the lake. The division of the poem can also be interpreted as the past and present or present and future of the earth. Just as mirrors reflect images and faces, lakes are giant reflecting pools which claim to show reality, not “cruel” criticism. Reflections are used as a way to measure progress over time. This progress can often become an obsession. The lake is a reference to Narcissus, a youth who fell in love with his image in a lake (OED). The pessimistic woman who visits the lake “each morning” in dedication, like Narcissus, finds herself less young and desirable than the previous days. Though the outcome of aging is inevitable, the woman refuses to accept the laws of nature and continues to be heartbroken by her reflection. The lake is interestingly rewarded with “tears and an agitation of hands”, actions which do not hold pleasant appreciation for “truthful” reflections. The woman is so concerned with her appearance compared to her younger days that she is unable to enjoy the present. The woman represents most American’s desire to appear young, attractive, and successful all their days. If one lives in the past one will find that each day is a “terrible fish” which holds no hope or happiness. The “terrible fish” is representative of disappointment, unhappiness, and regret stemming from opportunities not seized and an inability to enjoy life as it comes. Instead of embracing and cherishing the time at hand, the woman has “drowned” her youth by disrespecting the truth of the present reflection. This relationship between woman and lake can be translated and applied to many challenges in life. The second stanza is a tragedy because the woman is not “seizing the day” and living out her potential, but is wasting her valuable time. Appearance to the world holds such a great “importance” that it generates an obsession with the worshiped godlike and reflective object.
Mirror by Sylvia Plath has a serious and objective tone to provide an honest interpretation of the people and images which are watched by the square “eye of a little god. The short precise declarative statements create a feeling of detached loneliness. The mirror has grown fond of the familiar and constant “pink” wall “with speckles” and has a slight resentment toward the faces and “dark” nights which force the wall to retreat. Poets will often inform the public about “dark” events in history or everyday life through poetry. Plath creates a dark fateful image by using relatively simple diction. The prominent consonant sounds of the precise word choice create a descriptive scene without a superfluous amount of words. Plath uses figurative language to describe the “mirror” and the woman’s reflection in the “lake” to create a similarity of hopeless truth for the future of each object.
Plath’s Mirror is a reflection on the way absolute realities of society and the greedy nature of many human’s desire for immortality and success can be viewed through objective poems and immediate feedback. The “darkness” of judgment surrounds the young woman and hides the “wall” that has become the “heart” of the “four-cornered” mirror. Poems and Poets can also reflect an accurate or “truthful” picture of present realities. Plath’s careful and succinct word choice creates a sparse environment in which the classic situation takes place. The “mirror” knows only truth and is immune from the subliminal judgment which plagues every person’s perception of the world. This poem has a distinct correlation between a poet’s poem and a mirror’s truthful reflection.
