Cinder

by

Marissa Meyer

Mirrors Symbol Icon

Mirrors symbolize various characters’ struggles to accept their true identities. Mirrors first appear in the book when Cinder is at the letumosis research lab and sees her reflection in a giant mirror on the wall. While she often tries to hide her cyborg parts, they are exposed in the enormous mirror. This moment parallels Cinder’s eventual realization that her cyborg identity is an intrinsic part of her and something to be ashamed of. Her inability to hide from her own reflection—and thus from being a cyborg—also foreshadows the fact that others will learn the truth about her identity by the end of the novel.

Mirrors are also fraught objects for the Lunars: they do not like to see themselves in mirrors because their glamour (the Lunars’ ability to telepathically control others) doesn’t translate in them. Lunars like Queen Levana and Sybil Mira use their glamour to make themselves appear beautiful and charming, but this doesn’t apply to their reflections. As Dr. Erland mentions, “mirrors have an uncanny way of telling the truth”—and for people who rely on manipulation of their image and others’ perception of it, mirrors become a source of weakness and shame about who they are beneath their façade. This is why Prince Kai removes all mirrors from the palace when Queen Levana visits: she insists on keeping up her false image, showing her resistance to the truth. Then, when a servant unknowingly gives a mirror to Levana, she and Sybil Mira use this infraction to severely punish the servant by controlling the woman’s actions and almost forcing her put her own eye out. In this way, mirrors represent the characters’ inability to hide who they really are: even Levana and Sybil Mira, who refuse to look in the mirror, reveal their true colors when confronted with the possibility of self-reflection.

Mirrors Quotes in Cinder

The Cinder quotes below all refer to the symbol of Mirrors. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Bravery and Sacrifice Theme Icon
).
Chapter 19 Quotes

“It is why Queen Levana is so striking to look at. Some talented Lunars, such as the queen, keep their glamour up all the time. But just as she cannot trick the netscreens, neither can she trick a mirror.”

“So they don’t like mirrors because they don’t want to see themselves?”

“Vanity is a factor but it is more a question of control. It is easier to trick others into perceiving you as beautiful if you can convince yourself you are beautiful. But mirrors have an uncanny way of telling the truth.”

Related Characters: Cinder/Princess Selene (speaker), Dr. Erland (speaker), Prince Kai, Queen Levana, Sybil Mira
Related Symbols: Mirrors
Page Number: 172
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Cinder LitChart as a printable PDF.
Cinder PDF

Mirrors Symbol Timeline in Cinder

The timeline below shows where the symbol Mirrors appears in Cinder. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 8
Bravery and Sacrifice Theme Icon
Secrecy and Manipulation Theme Icon
...are all in agony—including Peony. Then, suddenly, she can open her eyes, and in a mirror on the wall, she sees herself without her gloves and boots; she thinks that she... (full context)
Chapter 19
Secrecy and Manipulation Theme Icon
...look beautiful—they keep up this manipulation all the time. It’s also why they don’t like mirrors, because their glamour doesn’t work in mirrors. (full context)
Chapter 28
Secrecy and Manipulation Theme Icon
Suddenly, Queen Levana screams—under the platter that was served to her lay a small hand mirror. Levana demands that the servant who set the platter be punished, but Torin points out... (full context)
Bravery and Sacrifice Theme Icon
Power, Greed, and Evil Theme Icon
Secrecy and Manipulation Theme Icon
Kai picks up the mirror, noticing that the handle is made of a sparkling material—Lunar material. Torin deduces that Queen... (full context)