Whitman – “A Hand-Mirror”

There is a certain personification within this poem as it looks into what is the real self. It speaks of costumes that are eventually stripped to show the real, sad self. We don’t really know who this person is, but we know that in truly looking at their self, there is nothing to brag about. The poignancy of the hand mirror image is that of one having to take it upon themselves to hold the mirror up to their own face. The idea that to finally look inside, and look back at yourself on your own will is a scary thought. There are so many things that we as people like to deny, but within this poem, you have to look into this “hand-mirror” in order to face the ugly person you really are, or can be.