Final answer:
The subject of the passages is English, particularly English literature, and they are suited to college-level analysis due to the complex themes and literary devices used.
Step-by-step explanation:
The passages you have referenced deal with themes of self-awareness, perception, and illusion versus reality, common in literature. The quotes suggest a focus on how characters view themselves and others, and how these perceptions are influenced by inner desires, societal expectations, or the metaphysical pursuit of truth. In many of these excerpts, mirrors or acts of gazing serve as symbols for introspection and the search for deeper understanding or truth. The language used in these quotes is rich with metaphor and literary devices, which is typical of English literature at a college level.