About this episode
Welcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 372 - Dracula and Doubles
Before we go any further, I want to give you a basic definition of a double in literature or movies - first using some fairly recent examples.
Now a "double" refers to a character or figure that acts as a duplicate or counterpart to another, often embodying opposing traits or hidden aspects of the original character's personality. This motif explores duality, fragmented identity, and moral conflict, serving as a reflection of the protagonist's inner struggles or desires. Doubles can represent repressed qualities (e.g., evil impulses), moral opposites, or even societal anxieties, creating tension and conflict that drives the narrative.
Toni Morrison’s Beloved (1987)
In this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, the ghostly figure of Beloved acts as a double for Sethe’s guilt and trauma over her past actions. The motif highlights themes of memory, motherhood, and the haunting effects of slavery.
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Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca (1938)
While not a modern work in publication date, its influence persists in contemporary Gothic fiction. The unseen presence of Rebecca acts as a psychological double for the narrator, embodying her insecurities and fears about her identity in relation to her husband’s first wife.
These two modern examples demonstrate how the double motif remains a powerful literary tool for exploring complex psychological and social issues while maintaining its Gothic roots in creating tension and unease.
Listen to this episode to hear a theory regarding how the theme of "the double" is used in Bram Stokers Dracula!
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