Dexterous Daunting Doppelgängers: A Critique of the Parallel Realism in the Select Fiction of Helen Oyeyemi

Helen Oyeyemi is a British novelist and writer of short fiction. She is an immigrant from Nigeria. Her fiction encompasses colonial themes, Gothicism and dualities. The lead characters in her writing are prominently young and teenage girls. These characters are placed in the context of diaspora in which they encounter the complexities of multiculturalism. The present paper is an attempt to unravel the theme of duality. This is presented through the portrayal of doppelgängers. The novels of Oyeyemi: The Icarus Girl, White is for Witching and Gingerbread are taken for analysis for the current paper. Through the representation of doubles and alter egos the plots reflect the characters’ hidden aspects and inner conflicts. The motif of doppelgängers serves as a powerful narrative device to delve into themes of identity and the supernatural. The present article will also attempt to bring in the key concepts of cultural studies for a wholesome analysis.