An Explication of Sylvia Plath's "Mirror"

Sylvia Plath's "Mirror" is a poem that deals with truths and lies and the progression of a woman towards old age. Oftentimes the "truth" of a person is not what is perceived by one's peers, resulting in the "lies" caused by opinion. The literary device of personification is utilized by the poet when she assigns human qualities to the mirror. The mirror itself is a premier symbol in that it is "not cruel, only truthful" (…

…of insignificance that leads to depression. She has no sympathy for herself, like the mirror has no sympathy for her. The mirror reflects only truth and cannot lie to make its owner feel better about herself. While mirrors are useful in learning the truth about one's own self, they leave out one key detail: the strength of a person's soul. In this respect does a mirror lie; a lie by omission is a lie nevertheless.