Movie Black Swan Imitates Edgar Allen Poe’s “william Wilson” 29h62

Being a huge irer of Edgar Allen Poe, I was immediately reminded of his short story, “William Wilson” after watching Black Swan, directed by Darren Aronofsky. I questioned whether the screenwriter, Mark Heyman was inspired by Poe when he wr ote the movie script. I also came to the quick conclusion that Heyman stole the concept of William Wilson and simply changed the elements around. I then became angry because nowhere in the movie credits was Poe accredited. A viewer who has not read, “William Wilson” would agree that Black Swan is a cunning original. The fi lm introduces an idea, which we as viewers are familiar with but have not curren tly seen through the medium of a movie. This idea being the inner demon, who ult imately triumphs over the host. In Black Swam, we see Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman) subjected by two characters, a gentle ballet dancer (Princess Odette) and her Opposite, an evil and dark reb el (Black Swan). This confusion between her two characters causes her to lose he r mind. The reoccurring scars and cuts on Sayers’ back, shows that she has been ex periencing with her Opposite for quite some time–the the duration we are unsure ab out. Sayers’ winning of the lead role in Swan Lake launches the perfect opportunit y for her Opposite to completely overpower her and it does. Sayers dies believin g she destroyed her enemy, who in turns, was herself and always had been herself . In “William Wilson,” the main character William, in his boyhood academy meets a boy who shared his name, who had nearly the same appearances, and even the same birt hday. This boy slowly but surely begins to imitate and mimic William s behaviors , he dresses and talks to the exact precision of William. They share the same li kes and dislikes and have everything in common. The boy begins giving William ad vices but William refuses. One night William went into the room of the boy and s aw that the boy s face had unexpectedly become unerringly like his own. Being ho rrified, William rapidly left the academy, only to learn that the boy had also l eft the academy on the same day. After fleeting, William attends several different academies and gradually become s debauched and induces in mischief as he grows older. He frequently encounters and is haunted by a man, similar to his own appearances and behaviors. William d escribes his fright, “ I fled in vain. My evil destiny pursued me as if in exultat ion, and proved, indeed, that the exercise of its mysterious dominion had yet on ly begun…Years flew, I experienced no relief. Villain! …Where, in truth, had I not b itter cause to curse him within my heart? From his inscrutable tyranny did I at length flee, panic-stricken, as from a pestilence; and to the very end of the ea rth I fled in vain. And again, and again, in secret communion with my own spirit , would I demand the questions ‘Who is he? –whence came he? –and what are his objects?’” ( 1) At last, William decides to confront this man. During a ball, Williams sees the man, who wearing the same identical clothes and costumes as his. Williams drags him into an antechamber, beats and stabs the man to death. Having done this Will iam looks to see his reflection in a mirror, and sees that he is pale and dabble d in blood. The story ends, “You have conquered, and I have yield. Yet henceforwar d art thou also dead –dead to the World, to Heaven, and Hope! In me didst thou exi st –and, in my death, see by this image, which is thine own, how utterly thou hast murdered thyself.” (1) As I observe, Black Swan is very similar to “William Wilson,” except that the movie revolves around a ballet performance. In Black Swan, Sayers encounters her Oppos ite at her dance studio and in sexual activities while William encounters his Op posite at his school academies and in card gambling. Both at the end, stabs thei r Opposites to death and learns that their antagonists were indeed themselves. Regardless, whether Mark Heyman was influenced by Edgar Allen Poe’s “William Wilson” w hen he wrote the screenplay to Black Swan, I think both the movie and the short

story told an excellent of the human’s inner self conquering. If I had to choose between the two I prefer the short story over the film. I also highly rec ommend you read, “William Wilson,” if you’ve enjoyed watching Black Swan. Poe is a mag nificent writer; he is able to tell stories where in my opinion, no movies, no s hort films, no screenwriters or directors can ever compete against. I would love to hear from you and your thoughts on Black Swan and "William Wilso n;" please leave a comment below. (1) "William Wilson." (1839). Edgar Allen Poe.