William Wilson Theme Essay
English ISU Essay In the grade 11 university English course different topics were covered like gothic themes, the doppelganger theme, short stories, etc. using stories like Frankenstein and Macbeth. Although one story was not used that fits in perfectly with a few of these topics. That Story being William Wilson by Edgar Allan Poe. Proof that this story should have been used lies in the themes used, the gothic elements, and the literary devices used in the story. The story, William Wilson, begins with Wilson asking for the reader to listen his life story, giving a fake name (William Wilson). William’s story begins in his childhood. He always had an overactive imagination, strong will, and a natural tendency for vice. When he was in school,
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The biggest theme being the doppelganger theme. A doppelganger is like a ghostly double that seems to be exactly the same as the original in every way, except that the doppelganger is usually morally opposite to the original. This can be connected to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, for obvious reasons, but can also be connected to Frankenstein. In William Wilson the doppelganger is supposed to be the moral version of William that tries to stop him from committing amoral acts, while the doppelganger in both Frankenstein and Jekyll and Hyde is supposed to be the amoral version that gives in to amoral acts. In Frankenstein, the creature is seen as Frankenstein’s doppelganger since they are very similar, one of the key differences being that the creature gives into his evil thoughts, while Jekyll simply turns into his double, by use of a potion, so that he can give into his vices without being caught. The opposite type of doppelganger is used in William Wilson than in both of the other stories, which is another reason why the story should be included in the course. There is also the theme of guilt, which can be connected to Frankenstein. In the story, Wilson mentions that he feels guilty about his life, much like Frankenstein does. Wilson feels guilty about the awful crimes he committed in his life. Frankenstein feels guilty about creating the monster that ends up killing his friends and
The biggest theme being the doppelganger theme. A doppelganger is like a ghostly double that seems to be exactly the same as the original in every way, except that the doppelganger is usually morally opposite to the original. This can be connected to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, for obvious reasons, but can also be connected to Frankenstein. In William Wilson the doppelganger is supposed to be the moral version of William that tries to stop him from committing amoral acts, while the doppelganger in both Frankenstein and Jekyll and Hyde is supposed to be the amoral version that gives in to amoral acts. In Frankenstein, the creature is seen as Frankenstein’s doppelganger since they are very similar, one of the key differences being that the creature gives into his evil thoughts, while Jekyll simply turns into his double, by use of a potion, so that he can give into his vices without being caught. The opposite type of doppelganger is used in William Wilson than in both of the other stories, which is another reason why the story should be included in the course. There is also the theme of guilt, which can be connected to Frankenstein. In the story, Wilson mentions that he feels guilty about his life, much like Frankenstein does. Wilson feels guilty about the awful crimes he committed in his life. Frankenstein feels guilty about creating the monster that ends up killing his friends and