The Phenomenon of Mirroring in Edogawa Rampo’s Short Story “The Twins”

The aim of this study is to examine the distinctive features of mirroring in Edogawa Rampo’s story as a multi-layered literary phenomenon that integrates psychological, philosophical, and cultural dimensions. The study explores the semantics of the mirror within the structure, where it functions as a symbolic object connecting the plot with traditional Japanese conceptions; as an instrument of the protagonist’s identity crisis, wherein his reflection becomes a projection of the “Shadow” (C.G. Jung) and a fragmented “Self” (J. Lacan); as a metaphor for confessional discourse, where the formal death-row confession devolves into a simulacrum of repentance (J. Baudrillard). Special attention is given to Rampo’s transformation of doppelgänger archetypes through modernist aesthetics, creating a synthesis of Japanese cultural tradition and Western psychological theories. The conclusion posits that “mirroring” in the story serves not only as a plot-forming device but also as a universal mechanism for representing existential crisis.