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| Scene from "The Case of Mr. Pelham" |
But it's with film, and especially television, that the idea of doubles really takes off; through the technique of masking, it's actually quite easy to put two separate images of the same actor on the same screen. Alfred Hitchcock had great fun with the idea in "The Case of Mr. Pelham" (1955, shown above), and the concept took a comedic turn with the "identical cousins" of the Patty Duke Show. Horror master David Cronenberg elevated the story to new heights in his Dead Ringers (1988), a tale of twin Canadian gynecologists, both played by Jeremy Irons, which is -- almost unbelievebaly! -- based on a true story. And of course the much-awaited "third season" of David Lynch's Twin Peaks revolved almost entirely around the idea, with "good" Cooper -- trapped for a time in the life of "Dougie Jones" -- battles with the bad one. Lynch prefers the term tulpa -- but it comes down to much the same thing, and person.
So give us your thoughts on this story -- and, as with our previous post, feel free to make use of these discussion questions (you need only answer one) if you like.
William Wilson’s double only spoke in a whisper because he was supposed to represent the alternate-ego of William. Where the original is loud and wild, the double is quiet and reserved. The thought of this situation could be that the double was a physical embodiment of the original’s alter-ego, or the double was just a manifestation of the original’s alternate clouding his own mind and that he was the only one to see it. Usually regarding doppelgangers, you don’t see your own double, but others will see it causing trouble while imitating you. However, in this story, the double directly interferes with the original’s life to cause misfortune and eventually his own death.
ReplyDelete- Hannah Parker
The story William Wilson by Edgar Allen Poe is about a narrator who meets his own doppelganger. I found the story interesting. It was another story about doppelgangers and coming face to face with another version of yourself. I think Poe had given the narrator and his double the same birthday as his own and had other similarities of the story to his own personal life because he related to some aspects of the story. The narrator, no matter where he went, was followed by his double who would whisper to him “William Wilson”. I think this symbolizes in a way the idea that you cannot escape from your own thoughts or maybe even your past. Perhaps Poe faced a similar thing, trying to suppress something he wanted to forget. I do think that the story of William Wilson might be a confession from Poe since he had added parts of his life to the story. Maybe he as the narrator in the story is haunted by something from the past. I also think the reason the narrator can only speak in a whisper is because he is supposed to be a symbol for the narrator's consciousness.
ReplyDelete- Ashley Hernandez
After watching the Mr. Pelman video I can totally see the similarities to the movie US. It doesn’t seem to be on purpose but when The actual Mr. Pelman comes into the bar and wants to speak with the Doctor who I’m guessing is a Psychiatrist, he becomes concerned about the idea of a double. We learn by him telling a story about how another person in the bar said he saw him the other day and he acted rather strange and disconnected but Mr. Pelman mentions how it cannot be him cause he was in Philadelphia the day it happened. It seems very strange how this clone or double is going to the same places he goes and also when Mr. Pelman calls his apartment they say he is already inside so it almost seems as if the double is stalking him and trying to become him. So as you can see the similarities to the movie US are very similar and we see the idea of a double trying to copy/ stalk the other person once again in this episode.
ReplyDeleteI think Wiliam Wilson, and the narrator was supposed to represent the narrator's two personalities. It's like code switching, when a person acts differently around their friends, family, people at work, etc. They are the same person, but they are also different at the same time. When you code switch, you almost create multiple identities for yourself. I think the other William Wilson is supposed to be his other personality, the one he shows to certain people and that both the narrator and the other William coexist with one another. They have the same birthday and attend the same school, but they both act differently from one another while also creating two identities out of the same person.
ReplyDeleteJessyca Iswanto
I think there are similarities between the movie "Us" and "Mr. Pelham". In both, the doppelgängers ended up being the ones who survived and went on to live a normal life while the original person was either killed or sent away. In "Us" the son seemed to understand that the mom was the tethered person while no one in Mr. Pelham's life seemed to realize the switch that was made.
ReplyDeleteSara Skadberg
The "other" William Wilson could only speak in a whisper because it is the real William Wilsons alter ego. While William is loud his other is quite soft spoken. This is usually a way that people see doppelgängers. They are similar in looks but their personalities are opposite. Just like in the movie "Us" although each doppelgänger looked like the person, they did not have the same personalities as the original.
ReplyDelete- Rebecca Fyrer
The doppelgänger of William Wilson might only speak in a whisper as a symbol of his hidden identity. It could symbolize the secrecy of these concealed emotions. Poe gave his narrators and his double the same birthday as his own and have him attend the same school because it was a way for him to explore these darker features in the story by creating a character who is connected to himself.
ReplyDelete-Elena Ruggieri
William Wilson and the other William have the same mode of talking but are rivals which causes the other one to whisper because it is an alter ego. Poe might be telling his story through William hence giving him his own birthday and attending the same school. William Wilson lived a terrible and often changed school where he ended up in Oxford and started gambling not only was kicked out of Oxford but left Britain as a whole.
ReplyDeleteOlolade Ojekunle
By making the characters share the same birthday and school, Poe symbolizes the close connection between the protagonist and his doppelgänger. This emphasizes that they are not entirely separate individuals but rather two sides of the same person. The other "William Wilson" whispers as it can be seen as a manifestation of the subconscious mind. It represents the hidden and often ignored.
ReplyDeletePoe makes the characters seem very similar and that they arent so different after all. They are from the same world and live similar lives. Its a very interesting concept to think about and imagine. Giving them different personalities like one whispering and the other being loud. Its interesting to see that he could be representing inner thoughts.
ReplyDeleteGeneveve Provencial
In "William Wilson," the "other" William Wilson is a doppelgänger or alter ego. This alter ego is a manifestation of the darker, repressed aspects of Williams personality.
ReplyDeleteThe "other" William’s ability to speak only in a whisper which I believe serves as a metaphor. It symbolizes his lack of a distinct voice, his lack of individuality, and his shadowy, secretive nature. This whispering quality might suggest the hidden and suppressed aspects him and that he's not willing to acknowledge or confront directly.
- Katherine Arthurs
The main character uses the "other" William Wilson as a mirror to reflect his own feelings and ideas back to him. But instead of confronting these realities, the main character seeks to deny them. The "other" William Wilson, who speaks in a whisper when the main character's denial is silencing him, symbolizes this repression. In this sense, the whisper represents the internal struggle and conflict that the main character is experiencing.
ReplyDeleteEdgar Allan Poe's decision to assign the same birthdate to the narrator and his literary doppelganger may have multiple motivations. It's possible that Poe intended to express a personal connection to the story, symbolize character development, and engage in self-reflection through this choice. Alternatively, it's possible that Poe made this decision without a profound reason, simply following a literary tradition of drawing from his own life experiences to enrich his characters. Authors often use personal elements to infuse their narratives with authenticity and depth, and in the case of Poe, renowned for his intricate and psychologically rich storytelling, this choice likely served a multifaceted purpose. In literature, an author's creative decisions are often open to various interpretations, and these hypotheses reflect the layered nature of literature and the creative process, where personal, symbolic, and traditional elements may intersect and influence one another. Understanding an author's motivations can enhance our appreciation of their work, while still allowing for room for interpretation and discussion.
ReplyDeleteThe story "William Wilson" explores the of doppelganger. The doppelganger haunts the main character and lead him into insanity and also represents his own sanity. It sort of represent a conscience. I guess this can suggest a theme of not being able to escape your conscience. If you try to escape, it will only worsen. In the sandman, nathan has a childhood figure that he fears that drives him insane throughout his life.
ReplyDeleteKaleigh Hopkins
Poe creates two characters who looked exactly alike that shared the same birthday and name, William Wilson. The first William was aggressive, as the second one was quiet. Years later, the William Wilson we know as the narrator, sees the second William Wilson while cheating at a game of cards. The other William that appears, whispers in a soft voice that the narrator William is cheating. The soft, whispered voice symbolizes that William’s alter ego is a hidden identity, that reminds him of his flaws and mishaps. Towards the end of the story, the narrator kills his doppelgänger William, and as he dies, the narrator sees his own face covered with blood in a mirror. That brings us to the question, which William died? At the end of the story, we reveal that the other William was his true self all along. In killing the other William, the narrator kills himself. This story was another interesting read because it was similar to the film US in the sense that at the end of the story, the doppelgängers turned out to be the actual protagonists that we followed all along. The double character of William Wilson is a projection of normal human conscience, which in this case, and in the film US, becomes destroyed. With the theme of having an alter ego, it represents not being able to escape ones own mind or consciousness, which does not usually have a good ending.
ReplyDelete-Nicollette DeFusco
Reading this kept giving me flashbacks from last weeks discussion about "US". "William Wilson" is where the reflects himself (doppelgänger). I often wondered why he spoke with such a soft whisper. Is he trying to conceal something between William Wilson or William? Overall reading this Poe is telling his story, but it intrigues me on why he does it this way. The two characters are immensely alike, but so different. I love the comparison.
ReplyDeleteThe story unfolds with Mr. Pelham as a, wealthy and seemingly successful man, reflects on his life, relationships, and the pursuit of happiness. The novella delves into themes of identity, societal expectations, and the internal struggles of its protagonist as he grapples with the complexities of his own character.
ReplyDeleteDoppelgängers are a concept all too familiar to us now in media. Whether it be the Jordan Peele film “Us” or lesser known works like “The Double” starring Jessie Eisenberg, the concept of an identical counterpart has been featured prominently in modern media. As evidenced by the aforementioned films as well as “The Case of Mister Pelham” , we’ve often see the dilemma of alternates & unexplained twins presented in visual and literary media, resulting in haphazard misunderstandings or frightening reveals that tangle up a reader into the plot. Seeing an early example from Poe with Mister Wilson lends some insight as to potential origins of this trope, though I doubt Poe was the first to even tackle the idea. Tales such as this rarely are surface level, seeking to offer more than just a creepy story. I believe this can be seen Poe deliberately assigns the narrator Mr. Wilson and his double the same date of birth, as observed by my classmate Veronica. This may have been done to heighten ambiguity regarding the blurred lines between the “real” Wilson and his doppelgänger. However I’d also consider the possibility that this is a symbolic decision. The other Wilson speaks in whispers, perhaps to represent a repressed side of this character or a struggle to keep this alter ego hidden. Poe seems disinterested in implying these are two separate characters — rather, he seems intent on indicating that these are merely two sides of the same individual. — Jaymes Raymond
ReplyDeleteWilliam Wilson is about Wilson meeting his supposed doppelganger William, but it seems like it is more of like an alter ego. Since he seems more vocal and the doppelganger seems to whisper. It is possible that William is his actual doppelganger instead of an embodiment, but it seems like Wilson is trying to escape his thoughts and imagining William throughout the story. They have the same birthday and go to the same school ironically, but that gives even more reason to William being his alter ego. When “William Wilson” is whispered though, it seems like it’s like subconscious thoughts from the alter ego.
ReplyDelete- Emily Torrez
At first, I did not realize that the other William Wilson could only speak in a whisper. In fact, I had thought it was more of a choice than anything. Perhaps, he fears if he does not speak in a whisper, his true colors will come out. He may even feel as if the whisper evokes some type of pity for him, make others more sensitive to the fact that HE is the real William Wilson, who is being mirrored. We see this same type of idea in Us, when Adelaide's tethered learns how to talk in a normal, typically calm tone. Ironically enough, no one would have guessed it was her, especially when those tethered typically do not talk at all.
ReplyDelete