From "Seeing Double: Twins in Fiction":
The notion that one could have a split self, representing both ego and id, is a much-used element in literature -- think Jekyll and Hyde, Jonathan Harker and Dracula, Frankenstein and his Creation. Who is your Rahel? Who is your Estha?
The dark double allows for the transgression of boundaries and the reader can observe the unconscious as it enacts its instinctual will. There’s something exciting about this. Perhaps, too, our interest in twins is also sparked by a sense that our identities are not fully secure, that there is always something missing – emotionally, spiritually or physically, and that to have a twin might provide an understanding of the self, dreaded or not, that would bring completion.
Bringing together the idea of twins and literary doubles is the unanswerable question: if one had a second self, what would he or she be like?
I feel with a secondary self, it would be similar to one, very similar, but it would express some true inner characteristics of the person that the person doesn't voluntarily express daily and in front of others. The secondary self would be many of one's hidden characteristics. This is such as if one acts very innocent in front of everyone, but has a dirty mind of some sort, that secondary self would express that dirty minded trait openly. Almost like a opposite, like how the main person tries to hide a trait, the secondary openly expresses it.
ReplyDeleteAlex Dessin
If one had a second self, he or she would be like what the other wouldn't dare to openly act like maybe because of fear or doubt. The second self would complement the other and balance each other out. Both would have a similar mindset and goal but different ways of getting there.
ReplyDeleteShannon L.
Pd.5
I think that if I had a secondary self it would be someone completely different from myself and would ultimately have the the traits that I lack both good and bad. Almost like a different person. We'd share memories and consciousness and decisions, but I imagine this second half to be more angry, to think in a more creative way and to be a different version of myself.
ReplyDeleteMy secondary self would be a druggy who doesn't care about school. I feel like my secondary self would absolutely contradict my personality right now because I am so extreme. My personality is the extreme student with anxiety and who has never done anything bad in her life. I think my secondary self wouldn't judge people and would be more understanding. She would be a little more relaxed, but wouldn't care about school work. Sometimes I wonder if I'd actually like to be like this in real life.
ReplyDeleteI don't know whether or not I may just be dillusional, but I feel like my second half, in terms of emotion and spirituality, would not differ much from me. I feel like there'd be a uniformity in the way we function. Which sounds creepy. But I feel like the area of differentiation would be in our interest. I'm more involved in the arts and writing, I feel like he'd be into sports and anything that's more athletic and involves more physical activity. I do believe he'd still value communication, his faith, the mental state of those around him, and etc. I'm not sure. It's a very interesting concept.
ReplyDeletePd.5
My other half would be a person who is aggressive and tough towards people . I feel like my second half will be more different than my current self when it comes to personality. My other half even has another name, Kevin. He would care more about his cool than others.
ReplyDeletePeriod 2
My second self would be calm, social, and a lot less crazy. I suffer from a lot of anxiety, so I would hope that my second self would be better in this regard. My second self would most likely have similar characteristics as mine, yet be a little more emotionally evolved. I want my second self to be better then me, however, I also believe that my second half would be the person I do not show others often. They would be unapologetically them and have no regrets or embarrassment.
ReplyDeleteSara Mirsky PD 2
DeleteIf I had a second self, I would think that they would be the complete opposite of me. In my family, everyone is outgoing and loud while I'm quiet and reserved. They enjoy physical activity and the outdoors while I enjoy the indoors and simple activities like reading. I would think that they would be exactly like my family and I would still be the odd one out.
ReplyDeleteVickie Tu
Period 2
If I had a twin he would be analytical and quiet, much like myself. He probably wouldn't have very many friends for real. As for emotions, I think my twin would be a little more vocal about them but they would definitely be an asshole by nature.
ReplyDelete-Matthew Oudkerk PD 2
If I had a friend he/she would be the complete opposite of me such as not being a person full of energy, being shy all the time, have better grades than be & would be the smallest sibling
ReplyDeleteThey would be completely opposite from me. They would be really outgoing and know what they want to do and probably be really confident about what they do
ReplyDeleteIn my mind, if you had a twin, and you were placed side by side with that twin and someone were to say if you two looked alike the answer should be no. But if that same person got to develop a relationship with the both of you, then was asked the same question the answer should be yes. A twin could seem nothing like their counterpart from an outsiders perspective but once you get to the nitty gritty of who they are they seem like the same person. One twin could be an extrovert while the other is an extrovert, they move differently but in the end they're heading towards the same thing.
ReplyDeleteIntrovert* oops haha
DeleteMy second self would be a complete mess. They would be lazy, fat,boring, and dumb. I'm sure we would be completely opposite. It would be like I am the angel on the left shoulder and my twin would be the devil on the right shoulder. But I am sure it would be fun to see what my other half would be like.
ReplyDeleteIf I had a second self she would be the opposite of me in some ways. She would be confident, less defensive, more upfront with people the first time, more motivated to do certain things, and less worried about what the outcome of possible actions would be.
ReplyDeleteI think that if I had a replica of myself, she would be the opposite of me: outgoing, extrovert, not scared of change, more focused on having fun than her responsibilities, care more about herself than others.
ReplyDeleteIf I had a twin it would be one who is social, outgoing, cheerful, and optimistic, which is the total opposite of me. Basically one of the ideal people in the world, but would overlook everything and become ignorant as most people are unlike me who faces reality and never let go of the sight of it. In terms of beliefs, would be normal such as belief in a god, respects the dead and cares about humanity as a whole more than I do really and thinks there is good in everyone unlike me.
ReplyDeleteMy second self would be outgoing and not afraid of to speak. It would be confident and street smart. My second self would have no problem with conversing with others. It would never be afraid to take on a new challenge.
ReplyDeleteThis is a difficult question for me as I don't believe I am the best judge of my own personality. Even if I were to judge my own personality, I find it so massively vague and ambiguous i.e. it changes drastically based on who I'm around. Thus the most accurate answer I can give is that my double would be a constant. My double would have a set view, set perspectives, set morals, set ethics, unwavering fortitude in their beliefs, and a resilience towards adaptation and unnecessary influence. My double would probably be more present in every moment they lived and better at communicating within those moments. My double would be both ideal and frightening.
ReplyDeleteHaving a second self could lead to improvement. People are unable to look at themselves objectively, but perhaps with a double, you would be able to look at yourself from a removed, more critical perspective.The famous stories of doubles are interesting because the protagonists are forced to confront their own flaws. It makes for a good story.
ReplyDeleteIf I had to have a second me, they would probably share most of my qualities. The only thing I wold hope is different is that I would want them to stay motivated more than me. As of late I have lost motivation for some things and I have fallen short of my full potential. My twin is really my older brother. We are the same person. We share very similar mindsets, hobbies, and physical traits according to everyone else. Something I have always admired about my brother and that I try to instill in myself is his determination and motivation to reach his goals. His drive is unmatched and it is something I admire.
ReplyDeleteMy second self would likely not be too different from my current self - however, he might be a bit less honest on letting people know what he thinks. I am a very open person about my life, but also about what I like and don't like. I feel my second self, contrary to a work such as Jekyll and Hyde, would be the more mundane of the two. Overall, I don't believe there would be too much of a difference, however.
ReplyDeleteIf I had a second self, it would be someone who reflects me: independent, mature, artistic, and reserved. I always longed to find someone who is just like me so we could have fun, but also understand when I want to be alone and not get upset about it.
ReplyDeleteI would want my second self to be a guy. He would be the person who I don't have to compete with in looks, friendships, or parents which is what I often struggle with when I have a female "best friend." My second self would guide me and keep me confident in anything I do and make sure I'm okay.
My secondary twin would mostly be like me but more confident in herself. She would have more courage. she would be present-oriented (living more in the now) then the always thinking and worrying about the future. She wouldn't let other people stress her out. She would be more focus and less of a procrastinator. She wouldn't be afraid of challenges,but instead be more adventurous. My secondary twin would be the strongest most powerful woman I know.
ReplyDeleteIf my twin is suppose to be someone who highlights my faults and dims my small perfections then they will be more on top of everything, more social, and knows what they want at any given moment. Spiritually I don't know what they would highlight but I know that what ever it is will help push me to increase my faith. This twin would also push me to get out of my comfort zone to find out what I want, desire, and need.
ReplyDeleteAmera Mohamed 5: If I had a twin I feel that they would be completely different from me. They would probably take all the genes that I didn’t get from my parents. They would be more into athletics and having fun and less school focused. I’ve always wished that I had a chance to not have to act like an adult and have responsibilities all the time so they would be goofy and do everything just because it was fun. They would be able to do what they want without caring about what others think which is something I struggle with. I would have her do my hw for all the classes I’m struggling with and then I would do her homework. I wouldn’t feel as lonely as I do when I’m at home by myself. My brothers at college so I don’t have many people in my house but if I had a twin she would keep me company. No one is necessarily purely ego or Id but a complex mixture of both. She would steal clothes from me like I steal clothes from my brother and we would have more clothing options since there’s two closets instead of one.
ReplyDeleteIf I had a twin, I feel as though they would be someone very similar to me. Someone to both highlight my flaws but also be there when needed or to just hang out. Though they are a nice person in general, they would definitely be the evil twin, causing mischief and mayhem all around. We would both have similar interests, and be a dynamic duo when it comes to tasks. Since we are twins, we are not our own individual people in the eyes of others, instead referred to as a package pair and confused. If anything, that would just bring us closer to one another.
ReplyDeleteHailey Clifford; Period 2
DeleteIf i had a second self, he would probably the entire opposite of me, he would be less mature than me, a less lazy and more energetic person. He would probably be the type to always get in trouble in school, he probably won't be that scared to challenge himself.
ReplyDeleteMy "twin" or "second self" would either be an expansion of the worst or best parts of me. She'd either be solely verbose and short-tempered or she'd solely be mute and deep-thinking. I wouldn't like either version, complexities make whole people who they truly are.
ReplyDeleteMy second self would be someone who is similar to me because we would be raised the same way and we would be around each other all the time. There tends to be things that are instilled in people through parenting,but there are also things that one is just born with. In general, someone who cares about people and can show compassion for others. In terms of personality shares the same personality and humor, they are sarcastic and find everything funny.
ReplyDeleteMy second self would be super relaxed and very quiet. They wouldn't work hard and would be driven by incentives, such as material things or money, rather than passion or interest. They would be very good at science and would be very athletic.
ReplyDeleteMalia Magbie Pd 2
ReplyDeleteI feel like I’m a pretty even mix of the two main types of teenagers. I love having fun which means sometimes doing things I’m not supposed to. I also care about my grades, respect, and education. Being a mixture of these two types of people gives me the impression that my twin would be pretty similar to what I am now. If I could create my ideal twin, they’d be very similar to me, understanding me perfectly. I’m not saying I’d expect zero fights but they’d understand when I need or want space, they’d be like me in the way that they aren’t 100% ‘good’ or ‘bad’, and they would be there for me. I don’t want them to be exactly like me but instead someone similar to me in the basic areas.
I often say that my best friends and I share a mind. When we were younger we looked very similar and would go out in public telling people we were twins. Now we are in some ways exactly the same and others complete opposites. At random times we will say the exact same thing yet our personalities compliment each other by being different. I am more responsible and she a risk-taker and she is very outgoing while I am not.
ReplyDeleteI think my second self would somewhat be like that. My second self though would worry a lot and be more pessimistic. This would bother me a lot because I find it difficult to have patience with people that see the bad in everything.
Well since I am already a twin, I already have a second half. We are supposed to be identical twins but we look nothing alike. Our personalities are nothing alike either. I am more of the responsible one compared to my twin who tries to pass by everything. But the only thing we have mostly in common is the people we are friends with. If I didn't have a twin, I would intend my second half to be a better version of me. For example, I have really bad time management skills so I feel like my "twin" would push me to fix that. Also I don't have patience for certain people so I believe my "twin" won't care of how people are to her.
ReplyDeletechristine! period! 5! :)!
ReplyDeleteMy second half and I would differ in personality more than we’d resemble in looks. She’d be more of a Rahel than an Estha and I’d be more of an Estha than a Rahel. With her charming charisma, loud mouth, and blatantly superior skills in math, we’d still find a way to share inside jokes and honest feelings since we’d have to face everything in life together and probably won’t be separated for 23 years.
My twin would be an overly serious and uptight person who is a lot more subdued and controlled than my normal, chaotic self. My double would also value his own life more than anything, instead of risking it constantly and looking for opportunities to throw it away at the drop of a hat. My double would be a lot more detail-oriented and less willing to put himself out there. My twin would be more aggressive towards people and a lot less open about his actual personality. Would this doppelganger be ideal? In some situations, yes.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteI think that if I had a second self, having lived under the same circumstances, she would almost be my exact replica. My brother and I differ in more ways than one but often times it’s because of the 4 year age difference. My second self however would act and present herself the same way I do. I see her being more outgoing than I am and more independent and outspoken than I am. We may have different interests in terms of hobbies too but all in all, she’d be my best friend and our personalities would mesh together like clay.
Kat Camara (5)
Cameron Dewey (2)
ReplyDeleteIf I had a second self I think that their personality would complement mine. We would have our share of similarities, but there would also be a good amount that’s different. We would definitely like a lot of the same things, so we would be able to spend a lot of time with each other and have fun. I also think we’d be able to work well together (for the most part). However, I also think they would be more outgoing than me, so they would probably take the lead in social situations. They would work better than I do when under pressure and stress, which would be great because it would balance us out. I have a brother who’s a sophomore at Blake, and we’re already kind of like this, so I would think that having a second self would be pretty similar to the situation I’m already in.
If I had a second self my other half would be the total opposite of me. More closed minded, more reserved and stand offish. She would care about the critiques of the world. Are personality will differ. Her's sweet, soft and gentle. She would obey all the rules given to man from God. She would be modest and serve to other's like a peasant. She wouldn't want to dream big and even if she did she would be too scared to chase her dreams. When she is disrespected by others she would turn her cheek it look past it with her shoulders.
ReplyDeleteIf I had a second self my other half would be the total opposite of me. More closed minded, more reserved and stand offish. She would care about the critiques of the world. Are personality will differ. Her's sweet, soft and gentle. She would obey all the rules given to man from God. She would be modest and serve to other's like a peasant. She wouldn't want to dream big and even if she did she would be too scared to chase her dreams. When she is disrespected by others she would turn her cheek it look past it with her shoulders.
ReplyDeleteJessie Tabe
If I had a literary twin or second half, I fell like they would just be my thoughts on the inside. I was talking with a cousin of mine and we came to the conclusion that she has "afantasia" which is when you don't see images in your head and are unable to day dream. Such of big part of my personality are the thoughts that go on in my head. My "twin" would be all the songs and thoughts that are constantly going through my head, which I would be a completely different person without.
ReplyDeletePd. 5
My double would be an incarnation of my thoughts and thinking process. It would be my spiritual body whereas my physical body is just what somebody see from the outside. I feel like best friends and parents have a spiritual connection with you and can also know what you are thinking because they know you so well. In which I feel like somebody can obtain some sort of connection with only if they really know you as someone you trust and care for.
ReplyDeleteIf I were to have a second self, I think that they would be the person I truly want to be. My second self would not be afraid to live out the dreams they have, the way I am. Most of my actions are taken out of worry to live up to a standard, particularly those set by my parents. For example, when I was in 8th grade, I got confirmed in the Catholic Church, which is the final sacrament of initiation. I did this because I knew it was what my mom wanted, even though I did not fully believe in it. My second self would not do this. They would not care so deeply about these exceptions, and therefore, live much more honestly and adventurously. Not only would I imagine that they not be confirmed, but they would probably have travelled more, not gone to catholic school, dyed their hair. All the things I really want, but feel as though I couldn't, do now.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to myself, I think my twin would be similar to me, personality and physically (sorta) wise. This is in terms of my more extroverted side and my sense of humor, as well as my height. Other than that, she would be more patient and less reactive, more athletic and confident. Honestly, if it was a possibility, I would love to have a twin; I feel like I would learn things about myself that I wasn't aware of before.
ReplyDeleteIf I had a twin/second half, I believe that they would be completely different from me. They would be outgoing, confident, talkative and social even with people they don’t know. They would be like the opposite side of me. I would see them as more open minded than myself, as well as more courageous. My own traits often do not match these, so that is why I believe the opposing mirror twin of myself would have such traits.
ReplyDeleteIf I had a second self or a twin I dont belive we would be regarded as alter egos or my perfect missing piece. Many people percieve me as shy, sweet...cute(lol)? I would use these labels as a saftery net because it is easier and smoother to wear premade clothes than to learn how to sew and sport your own monstrous creation. My twin would act the exact way that we're painted because we're too passive to unleash our true nature. It would compeltly break the box outlined for us. We care so much about our image that eventually,even to eachother, we become a facade. I am only safe inside my own mind.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry for this incredibly late response
ReplyDeleteSo I am a Gemini, which is regarded as the zodiac sign of “the twins” as we’re commonly regarded as having 2 parts to my personality. I feel this way often, so this allows me to distinctly split my personality in two. If I had a second self, I feel like they’d be half the personality I have now, while I’d be the other half. They’d be introverted and reserved while I’d be extroverted and outgoing. They’d be athletic and I’d be an academic. Then again, if i did stay myself and had a twin now, I feel like they’d just be the exact opposite but have common values. They’d have opposite interests and be motivated in different things, but overall we’d see the world the same - Caitlin Henderson