Reflective…In More Ways Than One

In a movie full of beautiful people, the mirror might seem like an obvious thing to have around. After all, we all like gazing on the gorgeous mugs of George and Peppy—why shouldn't they have the pleasure?

When we first see him on set, George gazes at his pretty face in the mirror as he fixes his bowtie and Clifton does his work for him (autographing headshots). Later, in the same dressing room, Peppy writes "Thank You" on George's mirror, then she and George look at themselves together, both in the dressing table mirror and the mirror on the wall.

Yeah. The only person who gazes into the mirror more than George is Snow White's evil stepmother. So what's going on with all these mirrors, mirrors, on the wall?

A lot. Let's break it down.

In Greek mythology, Narcissus, the foxy son of Cephissus and Liriope, is doomed when he catches sight of his own reflection in a pool of water. Unable to distinguish between reality and the image in the water, Narcissus stares at himself until he dies. (Yikes.)

One of George's main flaws might be his vanity, so it seems apt that he's so prone to staring at himself in mirrors. Luckily, with fancy-shmancy post-Ancient Greece technology, you can no longer literally drown in mirrors.

More than just an instrument of narcissism, though, the mirror often serves as a tool for greater reflection. Like when Peppy pauses before drawing on her beauty mark in the mirror, pondering both George and his role in her fame.

The mirror can also be a place to live out fantasies, and we see this occur near the end of the movie. When George catches sight of himself in a shop window, the illusion of his own refection, coupled with his pawned signature tuxedo, makes it look like he's wearing his old suit again. The reflective surface of the window is like a time machine, propelling him into the past and allowing him to feel like his old self again.

And, of course, the depressing part about mirrors: sometimes they can be hard to look at, especially when we don't feel great about ourselves. After all his prized possessions have been auctioned off, George sits down with a glass of whisky at a table with a mirrored top. He can't stand to look at himself, so he pours the liquor all over his face, distorting the image.

He may not be able to drown himself in his reflection…but at least he can drown his sorrows.