The Double by Jorge Luis Borges
A man's life is disrupted when a doppelganger appears, leading him to question his own identity and sanity. The story explores themes of identity, reality, and the blurring of lines between self and other.
By Jorge Luis Borges · First published 1915 · Genre: Philosophical Fiction, Fantasy, Literary Fiction · 444 words
First lines
Suggested or stimulated by reflections in mirrors and in water and by twins, the idea of the Double is common to many countries. It is likely that sentences such as A friend is another self by Pythagoras or the Platonic Know thyself were inspired by it. In Germany this Double is called Doppelgänger, which means 'double walker'. In Scotland there is the fetch, which comes to fetch a man to bring him to his death; there is also the Scottish word wraith for an apparition thought to be seen by a person in his exact image just before death. To meet oneself is, therefore, ominous. The tragic ballad ‘Ticonderoga' by Robert Louis Stevenson tells of a legend on this theme. There is also the strange picture by Rossetti (‘How They Met Themselves') in which two lovers come upon themselves in the dusky gloom of a wood. We may also cite examples from Hawthorne (‘Howe's Masquerade'), Dostoyevsky, Alfred de Musset, James (‘The Jolly Corner'), Kleist, Chesterton (‘The Mirror of Madmen'), and Hearn (Some Chinese Ghosts).
What this Textopian page supports
The Double is listed on Textopian as a short story by Jorge Luis Borges, dated 1915 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Jorge Luis Borges
- Date: 1915 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Philosophical Fiction, Fantasy, Literary Fiction, Horror, Mythology
- Length: 444 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Double by Jorge Luis Borges
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Double?
- How does this short story by Jorge Luis Borges fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Philosophical Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Intruder by Jorge Luis Borges
- A Double For Mohammed by Jorge Luis Borges
- The Anthropologist by Jorge Luis Borges
- Two Metaphysical Beings by Jorge Luis Borges
- The Barometz by Jorge Luis Borges
- The Unworthy Friend by Jorge Luis Borges
Genres
- Philosophical Fiction — Explores deep philosophical themes such as identity, self-reflection, and the nature of the self.
- Fantasy — Incorporates elements of the supernatural and mythical, such as the concept of the Double and its various cultural interpretations.
- Literary Fiction — Features a sophisticated narrative style and intertextual references to various literary works and traditions.
- Horror — Touches on ominous and eerie themes, such as the doppelgänger and its association with death and foreboding.
Tags
Psychological Thriller · Philosophical Fiction · Short Story Collection · Literary Experimentation · Identity Crisis · Doppelganger Theme · Existentialism · Absurdism · Paradox · Self-Discovery · Dual Identity · Mirroring