Conscience In William Wilson Essay

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“Every man is guilty of all the good he did not do.” These words, spoken by French philosopher Voltaire, emphasize the importance of conscience. The conscience plays a considerable role in the life of the narrator, “William Wilson”. His actions throughout his life prove that he is an immoral character. The actions of the narrator prove that one can never escape their conscience. In “William Wilson”, the narrator appears to be immoral in his actions revealed to the reader. The narrator, when he initially introduces himself to the reader, is consummated with fear that the reader will know his true identity. “Let me call myself, for the present, William Wilson. The fair page now lying before me need not be sullied with my real appellation. This has been already too much an object for the scorn --for the horror --for the detestation of my race.” (Poe) The narrator, or “William Wilson”, has his true identity unbeknowst to the reader. As he mentions, “This has been already too much an object for the scorn --for the horror --for the detestation of my race.” It reveals to the reader that there is a crucial piece of information that the narrator refuses to reveal to …show more content…
When the narrator became hateful of his own conscience, he is forced to part ways and leave the academy. The speaker travels the world, escaping to Rome, Paris, Naples, and Egypt, in an attempt to abandon William Wilson. However, the narrator is still unable to flee from the grasp of William Wilson. “Upon my entering he strode hurriedly up to me, and, seizing me by. the arm with a gesture of petulant impatience, whispered the words "William Wilson!" in my ear.” The constant shadowing of the narrator by William Wilson further indicates that both are William Wilson and the narrator are the same person. The narrator’s inability to comprehend what his conscience is directing him to do is what propels him into

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