THE AVATAR IN PANAMA - Theses - Flinders University

SummaryThe concept of the double in literature has long enjoyedcontroversy. Originally, its purpose was to function purely as a comicdevice or to create an atmosphere conducive to the theme of mistakenidentity. As the artistic and social milieu changed, the double came toembody unconscious desire in the form of a projected second self.Although its popularity as a theme seems to have waned in recenttimes, the double has re-emerged with a new twist as it has moved intothe realm of postmodernism. Panamanian writer, Enrique JaramilloLevi, has become synonymous with the concept although to date thetheme has not been researched at all in its application to his work. Thisthesis deals with the treatment of this literary device in the work ofJaramillo Levi from a modern and postmodern perspective by usingrepresentative writers from around the world.v