"William Wilson"

Book Review # 114796

Literature > American
Psychology

"William Wilson"

A discussion on the use of double identity in Edgar Allan Poe's "William Wilson"

807 words () | 0 sources | 2005 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper reviews the short story "William Wilson" by Edgar Allan Poe and studies the psychological effects of Poe's use of a double identity. Citing other Gothic literature examples that also employ the use of double identities such as "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde", the paper explains how Poe uses double identity to provide an insight into the mental status of the narrator, who is also the protagonist, William Wilson. Summarizing Wilson's attempts to free himself from his restricting alter ego, the author also explains how Poe uses this Gothic psychological element to engage the reader.

From the Paper:

"Edgar Allan Poe's, William Wilson, is a classical example of the psychological element of a double identity in gothic literature. William Wilson is a seemingly strong-willed schoolboy at Eton. However, throughout the story, he constantly struggles with another William Wilson. Although William Wilson 1 narrates the story as if William Wilson 2 is real and external, the reader eventually learns that William Wilson 2 is nothing more than a figment of William Wilson 1's fragmented psyche. By including a vivid portrayal of William Wilson's double identity, Poe depicts how the gothic double not only provides insight into the mental status of the narrator, but it also psychologically degrades the identity of the narrator and eventually the reader."