The Double

Consider the relationship between Petrushka and Golyadkin. Given Golyadkin’s preoccupation with wealth, why might Petrushka be the only character to speak to the existence of the double? What does this suggest about the function of wealth in the text?

Does the appearance of wealth appear to bring Golyadkin any joy? Compare moments when Golyadkin shops or rides in his carriage with his moments of interaction with his colleagues and superiors. How and why are these moments different, and what do they reveal about Golyadkin?

Does the double appear to Golyadkin initially as a sympathetic figure? Is this genuine, or is it an act? Explain your reasoning.

How does the novel explore the difference between public and private existence? Consider the double’s behavior toward Golyadkin in both private and public and explain what this says about both society and the self in the text.

What does the fantasy of Klara in the novel represent? In what ways does Golyadkin project onto Klara, and what does she represent that he covets?

What is the importance of duality in The Double beyond the double himself? What is the duality of society in the text? Which other characters demonstrate an element of “a double” in that they are perhaps inauthentic at times?

To what extent does Golyadkin truly lose his grip on reality? Make a case for his self-created unraveling or his being antagonized into breaking from society.

What is the significance of the doctor? Compare and contrast his first and last interaction with Golyadkin. How is the doctor different, and has he, in your opinion, grown into a double version of himself, as Golyadkin believes?