The more difficult truth, though, is that this is a doppelganger story, and doppelganger stories are never only about them; they are always also about us. The literature is unequivocal. Jean Paul, the German writer credited with coining the term Doppelgänger in his three-volume 1796–97 novel Siebenkäs, defined it as meaning "Leute, die sich selber sehen" (people who see themselves).

DEFINE: Jean Paul coined Doppelgänger in 1796–97, defined as 'people who see themselves' — a useful working definition for the term.

Naomi Klein, Doppelganger, loc. 622