Final answer:
The common theme in "Little Snow White" and "The Mirror of Matsuyama" is depicted through the motif of a mirror, signifying vanity and jealousy in one, and love and connection in another, highlighting the power of self-reflection and contrasting cultural values.
Step-by-step explanation:
To compare the common theme or motif in "Little Snow White" and "The Mirror of Matsuyama," one can look at the recurring element of a mirror, which plays a significant role in both stories. In "Little Snow White," the mirror is a symbol of vanity and jealousy, reflecting the Evil Queen's obsession with being the fairest of all.
Conversely, in "The Mirror of Matsuyama," the mirror is a cherished possession that represents love, loss, and the mother-daughter relationship.
Both stories illustrate how a mirror can hold power over characters, but they diverge in the nature of its influence. The appearance of the mirror multiple times in each narrative highlights its importance and hints at themes related to self-perception, identity, and human emotions.
While "Little Snow White" uses the mirror to drive the plot through the Queen's envy, leading to dramatic consequences, the mirror in "The Mirror of Matsuyama" serves as a sentimental link that maintains the bond between a mother and her daughter after separation, evoking feelings of nostalgia and warmth.
The significance of these mirrored motifs is that they both underscore the impact of self-reflection, whether literal or metaphorical.
The contrasting use of the mirror in each story - one as a source of conflict and the other as a source of comfort - provides a rich basis for comparison. It reveals different cultural values and narrative techniques utilized to present similar objects with distinct thematic implications.