Lady In The Looking Glass Analysis

A story is more than just plot and characters, it is subtle symbols, emotional tones, and deeper meanings conveyed through the specific word choice of an author. British literature is known for its extensive use of these literary devices, and short stories especially use them to the fullest advantage due to their short nature. One specific story is Joseph Conrad’s “The Lagoon”, which uses literary devices to tell the story about a Malayan man and his struggles with love and betrayal. Another story known for its clever use of literary devices is Virginia Woolf’s “Lady In The Looking Glass: A Reflection”, which discusses the fears and acceptance of aging and death. Both of these stories are more than the simple plot that appear on the surface,

In “The Lagoon”, Arsat is a Malayan man who falls in love with a woman and with his brother, kidnaps her and betrays his brother for the woman he loves. His love for Diamlelene has grown strong and she has a half of him in her, so when she dies Conrad writes “In a little while I shall see clear enough to strike-to strike . But she has died, and… now… darkness.” (Conrad 1234). Arsat is suddenly reminded of his betrayal of his brother, and is filled with pain and rage. This turns Arsat into a different man, one who is willing to go off and fight to the death for revenge. By contrast, the “Lady In The Looking Glass: A Reflection” has the main character become accepting of her situation and realizes that she is content with her life. Isabella Tyson is described at the end of the novel as, “Look as she stood there, old and angular, veined and lined, with her high nose and her wrinkled neck…” (Woolf 1197), she now sees that she is in fact an older woman and not the young lady she hoped to be. Isabella also goes through a change in her story, one of acceptance and shedding the shell she has tried so hard to upkeep, which is represented in how she actually sees her true self in the looking glass. So ya know, characterization