Before the Mirror is a novel by Elizabeth Stoddard that was first published in 1865. The novel tells the story of two sisters, Rose and Lily, who are raised in a strict and religious household. As they grow older, they begin to question the values they have been taught and to explore their own identities. Rose, the elder sister, is a strong and independent woman who is determined to live her life on her own terms. Lily, the younger sister, is more timid and insecure, but she also begins to assert her own independence. The novel follows the sisters as they navigate the challenges of love, marriage, and family, and as they come to terms with their own identities and values.