The two poems “Mirror” and “warning” talk about old age, however the poets view on old age is different. Plath views old age from a bad point of view where as in “warning” the poet expresses how lively and energetic she will be when she is older and how she will do all the things she can’t do know. Joseph gives a positive view of old age that is portrayed in the title. Joseph is giving a caution so that people won’t be surprised when she is older and does childish things.
Firstly Plath shows her dread of old age by personifying the mirror and how the mirror reflects her age and how she feels. Plath is helpless in her old age she uses unusual imagery like “rises towards her day after day like a terrible fish” which shows us how she grows older each day and also it emphasizes the ugliness of her in old age. Joseph on the other hand explains that she has to “make up for the sobriety of my youth” so her life will be more active in her old age and more carefree since she will not worry about what she does. They see old age as different things Joseph as old age will be better then now and Plath fears her old age.
