Question

The poem says a lot about the theme of time passing and looks fading. The woman in the poem regrets the loss of youth and beauty. What is your definition of beauty? Is it a physical feature? Is there such a thing as “inner beauty? What kind of beauty might that be? Write your answer in two hundred words.

Answer 1

Answer and Explanation:

This is a personal question about your opinion. I will provide an example below. Feel free to add or edit anything to fit your beliefs and opinions:

My definition of beauty does go beyond looks, although I must agree that all of us probably still judge people first based on their appearance. Still, I believe personality, character, manners, and actions are a better way to convey one's true beauty. Indeed, it is what most people would call "inner beauty", and I truly think it exists.

If someone despises or mistreats others, no matter how physically beautiful that someone is, we will end up finding them ugly because their actions and traits are ugly. The same happens the other way around. A person may not be considered very attractive, but if they are gentle, polite, and intelligent, for instance, we will perceive that person as beautiful and will prefer their company over the attractive but rude person.

Answer 2

Answer:

My definition of beauty does go beyond looks, although I must agree that all of us probably still judge people first based on their appearance. Still, I believe personality, character, manners, and actions are a better way to convey one's true beauty. Indeed, it is what most people would call "inner beauty", and I truly think it exists. If someone despises or mistreats others, no matter how physically beautiful that someone is, we will end up finding them ugly because their actions and traits are ugly. The same happens the other way around. A person not be considered very attractive, but if they are gentle, polite, and intelligent, for instance, we will perceive that person as beautiful and will prefer their company over the attractive but rude person. Plath’s poem, “Mirror,” which she wrote in 1961, is a poignant poem that touches on the themes of time passing and beauty as a mirror (the speaker of the poem) that relates its experiences with a woman who has grown old and is no longer beautiful. Having the mirror narrate the poem is an example of personification. Notice that it speaks with objectivity of a child who just reflects on surface realities and is too young to understand deeper nuances.

Explanation: