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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 earlier posts, feel free to make use of these discussion questions (you need only answer one) if you like.
Why is it that the "other" William Wilson can only speak in a whisper?"
ReplyDeleteI feel as if this question was interesting to answer because the film goes around the aspect of having a doppelgänger however, in the film the “other” William is seen as the original William’s shadow. So, I believe that he can only speak in a whisper because he lives in the shadows. The doppelgänger is an underlying, second version of William and has more mystery and tension to his character because he is see as being on the other side. This doppelgänger can represent a character who is simply not as highly heard or there is a deeper meaning into his quietness, being that he has more suspense and secrets that lies beneath him.
Wy is it that the "other" William Wilson can only speak in a whisper?
ReplyDeleteI feel as though the doppelgänger can only converse in a whisper is because in most scenes he isn't really there to the human eye. I think that the human William Wilson is constantly thinking about the doppelgänger encounters it turns into a sub conscious element of his life. Also the doppelgänger is supposed to be a mythical being full of secrecy so I don't think it would make sense to have the doppelgänger as a normal sounding being. Thats how it was in Us and the doppelgängers played a huge roll in keeping secrets until the very end of the film
Question 2
ReplyDeleteThe doppelgänger William Wilson spoke with a whisper that represented his hidden nature and the dark secret he held. "You have conquered, and I yield. Yet henceforward art thou also dead -- dead to the world and its hopes. In me didst thou exist -- and, in my death, see by this image, which is thine own, how utterly thou hast murdered thyself." The way the doppelgänger delivered this message made him seem as though he was sinister, almost acting as "the devil on your shoulder". The "real" William Wilson was left with the challenge of escaping himself, almost like the Jordan Peele movie, "Us".
I agree. William Wilson's doppelganger's ominous murmur draws attention to the dark, hidden side of himself and reflects a deeply psychological story. The conflict inside Jordan Peele's "Us," where the doubles stand in for darker sides of the individual, is mirrored in the psychological fight between the "real" William Wilson and his double. A strong topic that unites all stories is the difficulty of escaping oneself, highlighting the constant struggle between light and dark, self and shadow.
DeleteFranz Eliasson
In response to discussion question 2, The other William Wilson only spoke in a whisper because he was in William Wilson's head. The other William is usually whispering when William is doing something wrong. He is like William's subconscious talking to him. At the end of the story, William tries killing the other William but it is really killing himself. This is because the other William was part of him. He tried to whisper to him when he was doing something wrong leading William to give himself up when he did something wrong. This made William very mad at his double and caused him to go insane.
ReplyDeleteLexianna Santos
ReplyDeleteQuestion: 1
Poe gave his narrator and his double the same birthday as his own and have him attend the same school in a way to connect the main characters life and experiences to his own from his past. By making the main character's life so similar to his own he makes it hard to tell what is real or made up. I think the point for Poe would be to allow us as readings to read and thik about his story in different ways.
Jodi Fowler
ReplyDeleteQuestion 1
Poe often inserted elements of his own life into his stories to make them more compelling. By giving his characters the same birthday and school experiences as himself, he creates a stronger connection between his own life and the events in his stories. This technique adds depth to the characters and allows Poe to explore themes like identity and duality in a more personal way. It also gives us the readers a glimpse into his own experiences, making the stories more engaging and relatable.
Question 3
ReplyDeleteWhile its speculation that "William Wilson" as a confession of Poe's own experiences, its not uncommon for authors to draw upon their own lives and struggles when writing their works. I think that this story could be seen as a reflection of Poe's inner issues and moral conflicts, woven into a narrative of psychological horror and suspense. I also believe that since he had a rough childhood, problems with alcohol, and internal conflicts, the story in this context add intriguing layer of depth to Poe's work.
Ian Cabrera
Joe Johnson: Questions 1 and 3
ReplyDeletePoe gave the characters the same birthday and had them attend the same school in order to tell his own story. As mentioned in question 3, it seems like the entire story reflects a confession, explaining how he knew his actions were wrong. Based on this, we can tell that the story personifies his conscious in the form of the "other" William. We hear the "other" William whisper to him when he knowingly does something wrong, like the angel on the shoulder metaphor. That being said, perhaps Poe is saying that he understood his mistakes all along, and is trying to apologize for his unpaid debts by writing the story.
Blake Fonseca - Question 1
ReplyDeletePoe wanted to add a sprinkle of his life into the story as he does with other stories, so he decided to make the characters have the same birthday and attend the same school. This can and probably did help with giving more in-depth experience because he can base it on his own. It also makes it more relatable to the readers and they can feel more attached.
Question 2
ReplyDeleteThe character "other" William Wilson, from Edgar Allan Poe's short story "William Wilson," speaks only in a whisper as a metaphor of his hidden, suppressed nature. In the story William Wilson, encounters another individual who bears a resemblance to himself and shares his name. This "other" William Wilson serves as a doppelgänger. The whispering voice of the "other" William Wilson symbolizes secrecy, deceit, and the subconscious aspects of the protagonist's personality that he tries to suppress and deny. The whispers imply that this part of his identity operates in the shadows which influence his actions and decisions. The whisper serves as a constant reminder of his internal struggle with his own darker impulses and desires. The doppelgänger represents the sinister parts of William's self that he chooses not to confront, therefore he constitutes it as his rival. This rivalry portrays the human condition of being evil that one chooses to conceal. The fact that the whisper occurs when William is completing shady actions symbolizes the secrecy he wishes to have over them.
QUESTION 1
ReplyDeleteEdgar Allan Poe basically made the main character and his double in "William Wilson" have the same birthday as himself and attend the same school. It's like he's sneaking bits of his own life into the story. Maybe he did this to make the characters feel more real and relatable, like they're part of his own world. Plus, by linking their lives with his own, Poe could explore ideas about identity and the human mind in a more personal and intimate way.
Question 2
ReplyDeleteIn Edgar Allan Poe's short story "William Wilson," the character known as "other" William Wilson communicates solely in whispers, symbolizing his hidden and suppressed nature. William encounters another person who not only looks like him but also shares his name, serving as a doppelgänger. The whispering voice of this "other" William represents secrecy, deceit, and the subconscious aspects of the protagonist's personality that he tries to keep buried. These whispers suggest that this hidden part of his identity influences his actions and decisions from the shadows. They serve as a constant reminder of his internal struggle with his darker impulses and desires. The doppelgänger serves as a rival to William, embodying the sinister aspects of himself that he refuses to confront. This rivalry reflects the human tendency to conceal our darker sides. The whispers occur during shady actions, symbolizing William's desire for secrecy over his misdeeds.
carina marques
ReplyDeleteanswering question 1, Poe added bits of himself into his story such as birthday and school, I feel he did this so he can feel more connected to the character because is it a part of his own world as well as helping the reader relate to the story and connect themselves.
Nataly Santos:
ReplyDeleteTo answer Poe’s reasoning for question one, I believe that it was done deliberately to mix his own personal life into the story. I think not only it allows for him to make the story easier without having to create new information, but it also allows him to make the character seem more real and not just a figment. It allows him to create a connection and depth within the character that may not have been done previously.
Allison Quinn:
ReplyDeleteQuestion 2:
I think it’s an interesting question of what this doppleganer of William could only speak in a whisper. I think that throughout the story it is meant to suggest that he isn’t really there. This is even supported by the fact when William goes to pay his doppleganger a visit, it doesn’t actually look like him at all. At the beginning of the story it’s also mentioned how he has a very creative, and rampant imagination. So the fact that he only speaks in a whisper, and no one around William seems to react to him or acknowledge what he is saying. The only thing that I really wonder about his how his doppleganer busted him for cheating. I almost wonder if he just snapped mentally, and told on himself. I guess the mystery is one of the things that’s making this story all that more horrifying.
Lucas McElroy-
ReplyDeleteI believe that the other Wilson only whispers because it is William Wilson’s conscience. The other Wilson represents William’s bad side in which he tried to keep hidden from the world.
Question 1:Why did Poe give his narrator and his double the same birthday as his own -- and have him attend the same school?
ReplyDelete- as i was reading this story I felt as if the narrator did this to cause a purpose to show the connection of William and the other personality he had. it was during a young period of his life, where most people start finding themselves. as the story continued and the narrator told us how much William didn't like his "twin" it was the side of himself he didn't like " his conscience." along with connecting the age,birthday, and school was easier to prove this conscience in the beginning.
Amanda Viveiros
ReplyDeleteQuestion 1:
Incorporating personal details like a shared birthdays and same school experiences adds layers of complexity. It makes you feel like it is more real and less fiction and helps you understand the story more. And you can really feel the connection with Poe in this story. Also adding something for question 4, I do think that he used this story as a confession, there are so many real connections between his life and this story, I think that is why he got kicked out of school.
Byron Veliz - Question 1: I feel he gave his double the same birthday and same school he attended because the movie is about doubles and he wanted to make it seem like he had a twin and how it would feel . Another reason I strongly believe is due to the fact to make things easier and not having to develop new things for each character in the film which prevents stress. Now with question 4 I feel the idea of twins can also connect in sports for example currently the Thomspson brothers in the NBA
ReplyDelete