William Wilson Character Analysis in Poe's Stories

The name that the narrator assigns himself, knowing that his real name is detestable. The narrator was once a confident, sociable child, able to dominate the playground. But over the course of the story he loses his confidence, turns to drinking, then to gambling, attempts to financially ruin a man who considers him a friend, and to having affairs with married women. He blames his fall on a mysterious double, who shares nearly every attribute with him—name, birthday, appearance—with the exception of their voice. His doppelganger speaks only in a whisper. The narrator ultimately runs from his doppelganger, and in his flight stoops to ever greater levels of degradation. The doppelganger appears at these lowest moments, revealing the narrator's weaknesses, crimes, and sins, and the seemingly supernatural doppelganger begins to seem like perhaps the narrator's own conscience. Ultimately, the narrator attacks his doppelganger, and in doing so kills himself.

William Wilson Quotes in Poe's Stories

The Poe's Stories quotes below are all either spoken by William Wilson or refer to William Wilson. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Let me call myself, for the present, William Wilson. The fair page now lying before me need not be sullied with my real appellation. This has been already too much an object for the scorn – for the horror – for the detestation of my race.

Related Characters: (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 168

Explanation and Analysis:

A large mirror, – so at first it seemed to me in my confusion – now stood where none had been perceptible before; and, as I stepped up to it in extremity of terror, mine own image, but with features all pale and dabbled in blood, advanced to meet me with a feeble and tottering gait.

Related Characters: (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 186

Explanation and Analysis:

William Wilson Character Timeline in Poe's Stories

The timeline below shows where the character William Wilson appears in Poe's Stories. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

The narrator introduces himself to the reader, asking us to use the name William Wilson instead of his real name, which cannot be uttered because it's too heinous. The... (full context)

William wishes that people would pity him. If no man has ever been tempted so awfully,... (full context)

William recalls his school, in a misty, Gothic village with shadowy avenues and a haunting church... (full context)

...were permitted beyond the wall on Saturday and Sunday, when they paraded to church. Young William watches with wonder each time the reverend, who is also the principal of the school,... (full context)

This is where William spent his youth. His youth, he says, didn’t need grand events. Even the monotony of... (full context)

William’s energetic character sets him apart from his school mates and he finds himself able to... (full context)

Outwardly, William treats this rebellion with bravado, but he is scared of it, fearing that the ease... (full context)

The narrator reveals that he shares so many details of life with the other William that some schoolmates, even older boys, talked about them, and gossiped that they were brothers.... (full context)

This troublesome relationship is the focus of William’s antics and the outlet of his wits. He plays practical jokes on his double that... (full context)

William’s double has also found William's weakness, though how the other boy discovered it is beyond... (full context)

William is worried that the older boys at school are talking about this relationship between the... (full context)

Another thing William hates is the way his double talks down to him, offering condescending advice, although he... (full context)

The doppelganger William notices this change and starts to avoid William. On one occasion around this time, the... (full context)

...and crannies. Some of these little alcoves were turned into dormitories, and this is where William’s double lives. One night, William gets up when everyone is asleep – he has been... (full context)

After a few months, William starts studying at Eton instead and the strength of the horrible memory fades – he... (full context)

At the height of the party, William is about to make a toast when he is interrupted by the announcement that someone... (full context)

Though the event remains vivid to William afterwards, it also has a paranormal quality that makes him more curious than frightened. He... (full context)

William introduces a new character, a wealthy young man called Glendinning, whose “weak intellect” makes him... (full context)

William ensures that Glendinning is the only opponent left in the game, and has been, at... (full context)

Embarrassment and sadness comes over everybody. William is relieved by an unexpected interruption – the doors open suddenly, blowing out all the... (full context)

William tries to escape his alter ego, but even on the continent, he finds signs of... (full context)

William hurries to the final stage of the story. He admits that through all these encounters,... (full context)

At Carnival time in Rome, William has been drinking and moves, frustrated, through the crowd. He is even more impatient because... (full context)

Now, William throws him into the room and shuts the door and draws his sword. The other... (full context)

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William Wilson Character Analysis

William Wilson Quotes in Poe's Stories

William Wilson Character Timeline in Poe's Stories

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