A doppelganger is a double, which can be a ghost or physical apparition, causing psychological anxiety. It can be an “evil twin,” a person in two places at once, or a look-alike. In folklore, they are often evil and may stalk their counterparts, while in psychoanalysis, they represent an aspect of an individual’s self that they are struggling to control. Doppelgangers appear in various forms of fiction, and there are many famous accounts of them in history.
A doppelganger — also spelled “doppelgaenger” or “doubleganger” — is simply a double. It can be a ghost or a physical apparition, but is usually a source of psychological anxiety to the person who sees it. The word comes from the German Doppelgänger, which literally means “double frequenter”, and has found widespread use in popular culture.
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Many different types of doppelgangers have arisen in cultures around the world. A doppelganger can be an “evil twin,” unknown to the original person, who causes trouble by confusing friends and family. In other cases, the double may be the result of a person being in two places at once, or even an individual’s past or future self. Other times, the double is simply a look-alike, a second individual who shares a strong visual similarity. The doppelganger’s goals often hinge on the role it plays for the original persona.
In folklore
In folklore, the doppelganger is sometimes said to have no shadow or reflection, much like vampires in some lore. These doubles are often evil and may stalk their more innocent counterparts. They may give bad advice or put thoughts into their victims’ heads. Seeing one’s own doppelganger or that of a friend or relative is usually considered very unfortunate, often heralding death or serious illness. In some traditions, a doppelganger is considered a personification of death.
In Psychoanalysis
In Freudian psychoanalysis, the doppelganger is often seen as an aspect of an individual’s self that they are struggling to control. The double usually has both similar and opposite characteristics to the original. In other words, the double will be recognizable as an individual, but will act differently, often in an extreme way. Often, the repressed aspect of the psyche that the double represents must be addressed and ultimately defeated in order for it to go away.
In literature and cinema
Doppelgangers often appear in various forms of fiction, from stories of mistaken identity to more supernatural phenomena in science fiction, fantasy, and horror works. Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a famous example of a doppelganger in literature. Alfred Hitchcock’s film Psycho features Norman Bates, whose image often appears in mirrors and windows, suggesting that there is more to him than a mild-mannered hotel manager.
Famous Cases
There are many famous accounts of doppelgangers in history. Guy de Maupassant’s short story “He?” (called “The Terror” in English) recounts the writer’s experience with a double. English poet John Donne claimed to have met his wife’s double in Paris shortly before his daughter was stillborn. Poet Percy Bysshe Shelley and US President Abraham Lincoln reportedly saw two look-alikes shortly before their deaths; Shelley saw him in a dream and Lincoln as a second face in his mirror.
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