Reflections

The long history of the mirror entails an extensive field of semantic connotations in the arts. The mirror can be a symbol for knowledge, truth and self-identification. It can also be harmful, as it may cause vanity and desperation.

In Greek mythology, Narcissus is tormented from watching himself in the reflection of the water. In fairy tales, mirrors can be enchanted, like the one in the Grimm Brothers Snow White. It tells the queen that she is the most beautiful, until the day her beauty has been surpassed by her stepdaughter’s. In The Picture of Dorian Grey, by Oscar Wilde, the painting of the protagonist alludes to a mirror that demonstrates that he has become a monster. The enchanted mirror in Harry Potter’s Philosopher's Stone displays people’s most profound desires: this makes it a dangerous and addictive object. In this case, the mirror reveals parts of the subconscious . Other famous literary mirrors are the ones in Bram Stoker's Dracula and Goethe’s Faust.

We will now take a look specifically at the role of the mirror in Pirandello’s novel.