Goethe's Use of the Mirror Image

The mirror as used in Goethe's work has previously been classified as an archetypal image. This classification is valid, however, for the figurative use of the mirror image only. Figuratively the mirror appears in its traditional role either as a symbol of knowledge or of vanity. Its use is confined to poetry and to lyrical passages in other genres. When used structurally, the image has little or no connection with tradition. Its use is based on scientific insights, as stated in Goethe's essay "Wiederholte Spiegelungen" (1823). The structural mirror image is not a psychological, but rather An aesthetic phenomenon. Structurally used, the mirror functions as an observer of man and serves as an instrument of self-realization and identification. The mirror itself remains completely in the background. Of importance is only its reflection. The imagery's impact is dramatic, and it occurs with greater frequency in Goethe's novels and plays.