SYMBOLISM

The most conspicuous symbolism in the story of "William Wilson" is the struture of the acadmey, where the narrator intially exposed his psychological disorder. The building was "two stories" which clearly was in reference to the alter ego William Wilson possesed. In addition, the principal, Reverend Dr. Bransby's character appeared to adjust in different settings "This Reverend man, with countenacne so demurely benign- could this be he who, of late, with sour visage, and in snuffy habiliments, adminstered ferule in hand, the Dranconian Laws of the academy?''. The Reverend ruled the academy with an iron fist but when in church the facade exhibited was a kind and gracious character. The levels of the academy and Bransby's different personalities were indicative to the alter ego William Wilson suffered from.

Being confronted by the other William's face, frightened the narrator "Upon his countenance, I looked;-and a numbness, an iciness of feeling instantly pervaded my frame". The narrator left the academy and never returned. The narrator soon encounters the other William thereafter but his face is always concealed. At the school of Eton when the narrator encountered the other William Wilson, the other William Wilson's features were vague" This faint light enabled me to perceive, but the features of his face I could not distinguish". And at graduate school as well as at the masquerade ball the features of the other William Wilson was always indistiguishable. The face of the other William Wilson was shielded because this was symbolic to the narrators first encounter and how it was so frightening for him to witness, he subconsciously blurred the other William Wilson's countenance to enable the ability to disaasociate himself from his alter ego.