"Destruction of one's own image is a form of suicidal ideation: die me, dichotomy." —Television Without Pity'sJacob, recappingFarscape |
A character, deeply unsatisfied with their current state of being, looks in a mirror or a pool of water. After a while, the character will eithersay (or sing, in a musical) something about themselves or just become angry, and disrupt the reflection in some way to show their dissatisfaction. This can involve punching or throwing something at a mirror in order to shatter it, slapping or stirring water to distort the reflection, or otherwise make the image of themselves go away. For some addedAngst, the puncher could injure their hand in the process.
Can occur with characters who have beentransformed or feel like they're being forced to become something they're not. If it's the transformed variant, sometimes the reflection willshow their original form instead of their current form. Also sometimes used by characters who are either ugly and suffering because of it, or made a decision that they regret and are angry at themselves about it. ContrastDistracted by My Own Sexy where characters like looking at themselves, and for an extreme case seeHouse of Broken Mirrors.
You don't have a soul! There is nothing good or clean in you. You are dead inside! You can't feel anything real! |