Analysis Of Mirror By Sylvia Plath
Mirror Analysis Sylvia Plath was never one to shy away from dark subjects in her writing. As part of the Confessional Poetry Movement – also known as, “Poetry of the Personal” – most of her poems held subject matter that was not openly discussed in literature at the time. Plath, and other poets of the movement wrote about personal experiences, feelings about death, trauma, and depression. Sylvia Plath’s poem “Mirror”, is no different. The themes in this poem don’t really attempt to hide themselves. After reading, it is fairly obvious that it is written about a woman’s struggle with her appearance as she ages, and a search for self-worth, and meaning in life. These are conflicts almost everyone faces at some point in their life, including Plath. Actually, at the time this poem was written (1961), she had been married, and recently had her first child. I assume that Plath was having some of these scared feelings of being trapped, she had left her youth behind, and had nowhere to go. She once said, “I am afraid of getting older. I am afraid of getting married. Spare me from cooking three meals a day, spare me from the relentless cage of routine and rote. I want to be free.” These fears of aging are shown in “Mirror”. The first stanza beings with the line, “I am silver and exact. I have no preconceptions.” It is narrated in first person, …show more content…
This ability to change shape at its own will is almost God-like, which would relate back to the line in the first stanza when the mirror calls itself “The eye of a little god.” The mirror then describes a woman looking into the lake, searching for her place in life. The setting of the lake seems to be referencing Narcissus. She is trying to show how people become obsessed with their own appearance, constantly needing to be looking at themselves. Similar to how Narcissus became obsessed with his own reflection in a lake, and eventually drowned because of
Literary Analysis In Flannery O Connor's Good Country People
1147 Words | 5 PagesAny less the black man who/bit my pretty red heart in two.” (Plath) This is another great example of imagery in this story because, it makes you think about an evil person committing a crime. However, she’s actually talking about how she felt when her father was mean to her. The words Sylvia Plath use’s in this poem are dark and they make you feel a sense of fear throughout the whole poem.
Summary Of Ronald Takaki's A Different Mirror
1012 Words | 5 PagesDuring the 19th century, America promised land and opportunities for all. Though some groups of individuals left their homes willingly in order to take advantage of what America had to offer, others were forced to flee due to inhabitable conditions in their homelands. Both Chinese and Irish immigrants, however, were often disappointed with their treatment upon arrival in America. The Anglo-Saxons that first inhabited America viewed immigrants as uncivilized and quickly declared their superiority, forcing immigrants to work for them. They created laws that prevented groups from accessing similar privileges as them and racialized these groups based on their cultures and languages.
Reflection In Fragonard's 'Allegory Of Prudence'
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Summary Of Natasha Trethewey History Lesson
1215 Words | 5 PagesIn order to change history, people must learn from their mistakes. Segregation in North America has been a big issue in North America that unfortunately still happens in the world today, however, it is not as bad as it once was. In the poem “History Lesson” by Natasha Trethewey, the author uses mood, symbolism and imagery to describe the racial segregation coloured people faced in the past compared to more recent times, where equality is improved and celebrated. The author uses language and setting to influence the mood and meaning of the poem.
Theme Of Isolation In Laurie Anderson's Speak
736 Words | 3 PagesTo try to forget and move on from being raped, she needed to avoid looking at herself and seeing the person she has become. Ever since Melinda was raped, she has been frustrated with herself and has not been able to face her reflection. This shows that she could not face her feelings. Melinda’s coping strategy was to avoid others and avoid herself. The mirror is a symbol for her emotional struggles and that she cannot deal with them.
Abject In Patience Agbabi's About Face
1329 Words | 6 Pages5,6) the issues that have been mentioned above are expressed. Since, especially black women, are considered to be living in the shadow this passage exposes the feelings and representation of black women in society. Their existence in the world which is not considered and respected. Considering especially the fact that the lyrical I is a black maiden, she seeks for recognition and acceptance among the other figures of the poem. Referring to contemporary issues, the lyrical I would be classified as a lower ranked person since she is black and being occupied as a maid, which clearly makes her powerless and voiceless in society.
Summary Of Ronald Takaki's A Different Mirror
1024 Words | 5 PagesIntroduction In Ronald Takaki’s book, A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America, Takaki argues that despite the first slave codes emerged in the 1660’s, de facto slavery had already existed and provides evidence to support this claim. While he provides a range of data, these facts can be categorized in three groups: racial, economic, and historical. These groups served as precursors to what eventually led to slavery codes to be enacted and the beginning of one of the darkest chapters in American History. Racial
I Dreamed A Dream Analysis
2067 Words | 9 PagesThere is a recitative-style introduction before the first verse as well as at the end of the song played by a digital sounding harp. This is sung
Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde Mirror Analysis
999 Words | 4 PagesStrange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a short novel written by Robert Stevenson, shocking the audience with its sudden twist. Told mostly from the view of Mr. Utterson, Jekyll’s lawyer, he goes through the mysterious connection between Jekyll and a horrible man named Mr. Hyde. In the end of the novel, it is discovered that Jekyll is Hyde, taking a potion to transform into the hideous man. After several transformations into Hyde, Jekyll finally glances into a mirror, seeing a short, hideous and hairy man, much different from the tall and clean Jekyll. In the novel, Stevenson uses mirrors to represent Hyde’s physical manifestation, an object that reflects within the person, and he uses the mirrors to show the unstable duality of the individual's psyche.
Conflict In Mirror Image, By Lena Coakley
873 Words | 4 PagesThe protagonist of "Mirror Image", by Lena Coakley, is Alice along with her twin sister Jenny. Alice’s major conflict in this story is herself and how she will adapt to her new body. She finds herself in the middle of an identity crisis when the doctors were required to exchange her body for someone else’s body. This body had belonged to a girl named Gail. Throughout the story, Alice tries to find her true identity.
Tulips Sylvia Plath Analysis
1181 Words | 5 PagesIn the poem ‘Tulips' by Sylvia Plath, the theme of isolation is presented throughout the poem. The speaker accentuates how disconnected she feels from the world, however she seems to embrace her isolation; it is something that she would prefer to clutch onto. The only problem she seems to have is the constant reminder that actually, in fact, she is not alone. Plath uses the imagery of tulips, which is constantly repeated throughout the poem as a symbol of isolation. The tulips can be seen to represent the love and concern that other people have for the speaker, for example her family, and that these people are there for her and that she is not alone.
Imagery And Allusion In Sylvia Plath's 'Daddy'
709 Words | 3 PagesEven when she realized the reality of her father, she still tries to go back to him. In lines 58-61 “At twenty I tried to die…………… /And they stuck me together with glue” Plath uses imagery to show that even as bad as Hitler, she will always look up to her
Bishop´s Use Of Language In Elizabeth Bishop's Poetry
1580 Words | 7 Pages“Bishop’s carefully judged use of language aids the reader to uncover the intensity of feeling in her poetry.” Elizabeth Bishop’s superb use of language in her introspective poetry allows the reader to grasp a better understand of feeling in her poetry. Bishop’s concentration of minor details led to her being referred to as a “miniaturist”, however this allows her to paint vivid imagery, immersing the reader in her chosen scenario. Through descriptive detail, use of metaphor, simile, and many other excellently executed stylistic devices, the reader can almost feel the emotion being conveyed. Bishop clearly demonstrates her innate talent to communicate environments at ease.
Feminism In Sylvia Plath's Poetry
922 Words | 4 PagesThe way that Sylvia Plath presented the image of women in her poems drawattention of many to the problem of patriarchy and overshadowing the importance of the female role in the society. She was a great poetess and a literary revolutionist in a female world. By combining irony, extendedmetaphors and a great use of language she was able to show the inequality and the dominance of man over woman in the society. She showed that even as, according to the society,a comparatively weak personcould fight for the right cause with her firmest weapon,her extraordinary style of writing. She revolutionised the world of poetry and presented women as a very strong part of the society capable of accomplishinggreat things.
Black Rook In Rainy Weather Poem
1056 Words | 5 PagesThis is understanable given the state of her marriage at the time that this poem was written. Plath seems torn between
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