Alter Ego
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The poem 'Alter Ego' by Gwen Harwood expresses views about the world and our place in it. The poem expresses its complex views about the physical and spiritual world and the place of humans and their spiritual doubles within this world through the examination of the concepts of spirituality, identity, duality and the constant search for the meaning of life.
Spirituality is examined within 'Alter Ego' as a means to express views about the world and our place in it. The use of the alter ego, soul or other such non-physical component of the human body is used to symbolise the concept of spirituality present in this poem. 'This one, whom I greet yet cannot name. who will not answer me, knows what I was, will be, and all I am' this excerpt from the poem clearly shows the poets view of the human spiritual double or alter ego as all knowing, and infallible however yet also 'indifferent' to events within a persons life. It is also implied that only by the complete combination of the human conscious mind and the 'mind' of the alter ego will a person truly know all they need to know about life, the world and their purpose. That is how spirituality is used in this poem to express the poet's views about the world and our place in it.
In 'Alter Ego' views about the world and our place in it are expressed through the examination of the issue of identity. Throughout the poem the theme of identity is explored through the quest for wholeness of self, this wholeness of self is inturn expressed by the yearning desire for unity between the human mind and the spiritual double...