Reads Edgar Allan Poe Short Stories| October 31, 2024 | 12-1300 | Virtually via Zoom (UMGC)
UMGC Europe Book Club, open to everyone, invites you to explore the eerie and psychological depths of Edgar Allan Poe’s “William Wilson” on October 31 at 12 p.m. CET via Zoom.
As a perfect Halloween selection, “William Wilson” takes us on a chilling journey of a man tormented by his double, a haunting figure who appears at pivotal moments to sabotage his plans and ultimately dismantle his identity. Poe’s gothic masterpiece, available for free online and as an audiobook, promises to deliver suspense, literary exploration, and a Halloween fright!
“William Wilson” is one of Poe’s finest works that delves into the psychological effects of a split identity. The protagonist, Wilson, is haunted by his doppelgänger—a figure who embodies his conscience and relentlessly undermines his ambitions. The doppelgänger in literature is a versatile motif rooted in myth, legend, and religion, which reflects self-division and adapts to the cultural and social contexts it inhabits. In modern literature, it subverts traditional notions of identity, exposing tensions between the unconscious mind and societal norms, while challenging the belief in psychological coherence.
The use of the doppelgänger as a literary device reflects the anxieties of Poe’s time, particularly the fear of internal moral collapse and the struggle between our public and private selves. The story speaks to universal concerns: Who are we when no one is watching? What happens when we cannot escape the darker aspects of ourselves? This was of particular importance in the United States where an entire population of Americans was held in bondage in contrast to its free citizenry. The internal struggle, the same one Lincoln referred to in his Gettysburg Address decades later, was alive and well in early 19th-century American Literature, and reflected in Poe’s gothic imagination.
Book Club flyer (UMGC)
Known for his mastery of gothic storytelling and exploration of the human psyche, Poe taps into a deep cultural fascination with the duality of identity and self-destruction. The cultural atmosphere of Poe’s time was marked by increasing interest in the complexities of the self. As society placed more demands on individual identity and morality, literature responded by probing the depths of the human mind. In “William Wilson,” this double represents not only a moral reckoning but also the consequences of a life lived in deceit. It is a story that continues to resonate because it reminds us of the ever-present tension between who we are and who we wish to be, a struggle as relevant today as it was in the 19th century.
Poe’s influence on American literature is immeasurable, and he is also one of the first literary global exports. The French poet, Charles Baudelaire, who wrote “The Flowers of Evil,” translated Poe for a Francophone audience from 1852 to1865. Poe’s insights into the human mind and mastery of the literary form also inspired Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray.” Great poets and writers have always known how insightful, uncanny, and disturbing Poe’s writing could be, and we continue to be drawn to stories where we are haunted by ourselves. These tales, like “William Wilson,” tap into the universal experience of grappling with inner conflict. The doppelgänger serves as a metaphor for the moral choices we make and the consequences we cannot avoid. Ultimately, Poe’s story reminds us that we can never fully escape the truth of who we are.
Join us on October 31 as we explore these themes in our Halloween discussion of “William Wilson”. Whether you are a fan of gothic literature or simply looking to engage in thoughtful literary conversations, this event is sure to offer insights into both Poe’s work and our complicated humanity. Everyone is welcome—students, faculty, and members of the U.S. Military Community overseas! For more information, visit our Facebook page or email bookclub-europe@umgc.edu. We look forward to seeing you on Zoom for this haunting and thought-provoking discussion!
