The Mirror crack'd: Reflection and self-reflection in French literature from the enlightenment to the 20th century

As my thesis will demonstrate, representations of mirrors serve as a gateway to the exploration of personal identity in fiction. An analysis of characters' reactions to their reflection in different genres of fiction demonstrates the significance of mirrors as literary devices that inspire those characters' contemplation of identity as well as reality. This contemplation often leads to the destabilization of identity and gives voice to the author's social commentary. Literary mirrors lead to self-reflection, and the evolution of the fictional use of mirrors symbolizes humanity's transformation in the modern era.