A simple moment in my son’s music class reveals a powerful storytelling principle – one that deepens characters, themes and the way we understand ourselves, writes Dr Erin O’Dwyer
My twin sons started high school last week at a selective performing arts school in our area. They’re music majors, they both play viola. They’re not prodigies, but, as their matter-of-fact music teacher puts it: “They know what they are doing.”
A tale of two musicians
In their first week at school, each student had to perform a short piece. The first viola to play was their friend – let’s call him Joseph – an exceptionally gifted musician. Later that day, when I asked my son Ambrose how his own performance went, he shrugged. “I did okay. Except I played after Joseph.”
No more words were needed. The scene played out inside our heads, and we all started laughing. The irony was beautiful.
What is mirroring?
In storytelling, this kind of contrast is called mirroring – a technique that uses parallel characters, events or situations to highlight deeper themes. Think of Snow White and the Evil Queen. Cinderella and her stepsisters. Charlie and the other kids in Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory.
Mirroring and the art of storytelling
Mirroring helps audiences see similarities or contrasts that deepen their understanding of a story’s core ideas. Two characters might face the same challenge but respond differently, revealing their unique motivations and moral choices.
- If you want to build storytelling principles into your projects, ask yourself: Where are the mirrored elements?
- Is the mirror between two characters, a human and a non-human, or two locations or cultures?
- How can mirroring strengthen themes and issues?
- If my protagonist had a mirror character, how could this deepen the audience’s insights into the characters’ actions and motivations?
Mirroring isn’t just a literary device. It’s how we make sense of our own lives. My son’s ability to maintain a sense of humour – even as he reflected on his own steady performance versus Joseph’s brilliance – wasn’t just about music. It was a reminder that in every story – fictional or real – we learn more about ourselves and the world around us.
