William Wilson by Edgar Allan Poe (1839): A Review
Author: Edgar Allan Poe
Publication Year: 1839
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Horror, Gothic
Source: Book
Why did I DNFed this short story years ago? Talk about a colossal misstep. I believe that some books require a certain level of maturity or readiness to fully appreciate them. In this case, we see Edgar Allan Poe mastering the art of the unreliable first-person narrator, who has a 99% chance of being insane, as he tells us how he ended up where he is now.
"William Wilson," which translates to "son of will," is the pseudonym of our narrator. He describes his encounters with his double, which is a particularly uncanny experience since this double mirrors him in name, looks, birthdate, and even wardrobe—exactly the kind of roommate you don't want! The double suddenly appears at William's school and does not leave his side. Their relationship is a complicated mix of hatred and love, and it's notable that William is the only one who notices all these similarities; no one else sees them.
As the story unfolds over the years, William recounts various encounters with the other William, who always seems to appear when our narrator is engaging in mischief or wrongdoing. This leads the reader to believe that the other William represents the narrator's symbolic conscience. I won't spoil the ending, but it's clear that William and his conscience do not coexist well, and one must ultimately go away. However, things get complicated because William is, after all, William! I must confess that I feel ashamed for having DNFed such a brilliant psychological story.
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