The aim of this article consists on analyze how the tensions of personal identity are represented in "The Mirror", a short story by Machado de Assis. The central argument is based in Paul Ricoeur, so, it is looked for firstly to describe in general terms his concepts of narrative identity as expressed in his last book: "Oneself as Another". Later, in a second time, Ricoeur's theories are used in order to characterize some of central questions in Machado's tale.
personal identity; history of psychology; social psychology; Paul Ricoeur; Machado de Assis