The meaning of twin motif in the structure of fictions

Abstract

This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the mythological «twin motif», which is widely used in world literature, focusing on its function, meaning, and cultural significance within the structure of artistic works. The main direction of the study is to examine how the image of twins, originating from ancient mythology, is represented in the works of American and Kazakh writers. Using Edgar Allan Poe’s short story William Wilson and Mukhtar Maghauin’s novel Zharmaq as primary material, the authors investigate the transformation of the motif in modern literature and its role in revealing the dualistic nature of human consciousness — specifically  the conflict between good and evil, life and death, and body and spirit. The relevance of the research lies in the universal and intercultural nature of the twin motif, which has been preserved across epochs and civilizations. The article highlights the diversity of twin myths found in Native American, European, and Turkic traditions and demonstrates that, despite geographical and cultural differences, the essence of the motif remains consistent: twins symbolize moral duality and serve as a tool for understanding human nature. Thus, the study contributes to the fields of mythopoetics, comparative literature, and motif
analysis. The scientific contribution of the article is the interpretation of twin characters not simply as plot devices but as deep philosophical constructs that reveal the protagonist’s internal division, moral dilemmas, and personal responsibility. The article identifies four major types of twin representations in literature and analyzes their narrative functions through an intertextual and comparative lens. The research also reviews previous scholarly works (Metraux, Campbell, Neklyudov, Aimukhambet, Orazbek, etc.) and systematizes theoretical approaches to the mythological and literary understanding of the twin motif. Methodologically, the
study employs comparative analysis, mythopoetic interpretation, systematization, description, and structural analysis. These approaches help identify the cultural-semantic similarities and distinctions in the use of the twin motif in the two selected works, revealing its educational and ethical importance.