The Double

The Double (1846) is a novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky, revised and republished in 1866. Dostoevsky narrates the story of Yakov Petrovich Golyadkin, a bureaucrat in the Russian capital Saint Petersburg in the 19th century. The socially awkward Golyadkin becomes increasingly paranoid as his existence is beset by the emergence of a man who is his exact double. The novel has been adapted for film, television, and radio.

This guide uses the 2009 Penguin Classics edition of Notes from Underground and The Double, translated into English by Ronald Wilks.

Plot Summary

Yakov Petrovich Golyadkin wakes up one morning and studies himself in the mirror. He calls to his servant, Petrushka, to ready his carriage. Golyadkin’s frantic, anxious thoughts prompt him to reroute his carriage to the office of his doctor, Krestyan Ivanovich Rutenspitz. There, he stumbles over his words and dismisses the doctor's suggestion that he should socialize more. Golyadkin is proud of his solitary ways. The doctor prescribes medicine to Golyadkin, but he quickly forgets, muttering about his enemies and their plots against him. Golyadkin exits the office, regretting his personal, awkward comments to the doctor.

Golyadkin directs his carriage to Saint Petersburg's most prestigious shopping arcade, where he visits several shops and asks the owners to place certain luxurious items on hold. However, he has no intention of returning to pay for these items. In a restaurant, Golyadkin meets two clerks from his office, whom he previously tried to avoid. Golyadkin is forced into an awkward conversation with the men, who struggle to understand him. Later, Golyadkin tries to socialize. He invites himself to dinner at the home of his superior, Andrey Filippovich, but is turned away. Golyadkin eats alone, pacing frantically around the small private room of a restaurant.

Golyadkin makes a scene when he attends a ball thrown for Klara Olsufyevna’s birthday. Golyadkin has long-admired Klara, so he sneaks into the party but knocks into other guests while attempting to talk to her. When he is finally in front of her, he invites Klara to dance. Golyadkin is dragged out of the party. He rushes home, embarrassed, but catches sight of a man who looks eerily like him. Their movements seem to mirror one another until, as the increasingly paranoid Golyadkin returns to his apartment, he finds his double seated on his bed.

The next day, the double is in the office where Golyadkin works. He has been hired, but few people recognize any similarity. When Golyadkin points it out, they tell him not to be concerned. That evening, Golyadkin is joined by his double. They strike up a conversation, and Golyadkin becomes more sympathetic to the man who shares his name and appearance. After listening to the story of the double's life, Golyadkin invites the double to stay the night at his apartment. The next morning, however, the double is gone when Golyadkin wakes. Petrushka seems to disapprove of the entire situation, becoming more taciturn with his master. At the office, Golyadkin quizzes his double, who does not engage with him, as he is busy with a new task. The double imposes himself on Golyadkin's professional life, taking credit for Golyadkin's work and making friends with the other office workers.

Golyadkin suffers nightmares of being replaced by his double. He wakes up late and writes a threatening letter to his double. When he gets to work, however, the increasingly popular double mocks him in front of everyone and humiliates Golyadkin. As Golyadkin becomes increasingly paranoid, and Petrushka leaves for a new job, the double takes over Golyadkin's life. When Golyadkin returns home alone, he finds a letter from Klara. In the letter, Klara claims that she is about to be married against her will. She begs Golyadkin to come to her house and rescue her. He plots their elopement.

The next day, Golyadkin waits for hours in the cold for Klara. As the hours pass, however, he loses faith in the plan. He notices that the people in the house are gathered beside the windows, watching him in the courtyard. His double emerges from the building and ushers Golyadkin inside, where his superiors and other members of the Saint Petersburg elite are gathered. They treat him with sympathy before presenting Golyadkin to Dr. Rutenspitz. The doctor leads Golyadkin to a carriage, calmly assuring Golyadkin that he is being taken away to a psychiatric hospital. Golyadkin, having feared this outcome, screams.