[WorldUrbanLegend] Doppelgänger
The Doppelgänger is a presence that goes beyond just a legend, creating mysterious events in reality. The name "Doppelgänger" comes from German, where Doppel means "double" and Gänger means "goer," referring to a being that looks like another person but is, in fact, the same entity. According to legend, when a person encounters their own Doppelgänger, it is said that they will meet misfortune or even death due to the mysterious powers of that being.
This legend, which originated in ancient Germany, has been passed down through generations, deeply embedding itself into people's daily lives. For example, it is believed that if one encounters their Doppelgänger, that person will die in the near future. Some versions of the story claim that the Doppelgänger will drive the person mad before death, while other versions state that if the Doppelgänger does not recognize the person, the bad luck can be avoided.
However, this mystery is not confined to just a legend. Historical figures have also claimed to have encountered their own Doppelgänger. For instance, the great German writer Goethe recorded an experience in his diary where he saw someone who looked exactly like him. The figure that Goethe saw left a deep impression, though scientifically, it has been suggested that the phenomenon he witnessed could have been a "Brocken Spectre," a type of optical illusion caused by fog reflecting one’s own image.
Even in modern times, Doppelgängers continue to astonish people. In 2015, a man in England met his own Doppelgänger on Twitter, and they were both shocked by the uncanny resemblance. They later became friends, marveling at this inexplicable encounter. Moreover, recently, even politicians have reported encountering their Doppelgängers, noting how eerily similar their appearances are.
What is even more intriguing is that the Doppelgänger is not just a supernatural phenomenon. In 2023, a chilling "Doppelgänger murder" case in Germany added to its dark legacy. A woman found another person who looked just like her and killed her to stage her own death. The police were astonished by how closely the two women resembled each other. This incident seems to demonstrate how the legend of the Doppelgänger can be exploited in real life.
Even in the past, stories of people dying after encountering their Doppelgänger were often recounted. Whenever mysterious events occur, people have often regarded the Doppelgänger as a supernatural entity, and perhaps that is why it has always been seen as a harbinger of misfortune. When one faces a Doppelgänger, the outcome of that encounter is always uncertain, making people continue to fear and talk about this strange and ominous presence.
