Secrets of The Forgotten Staircase, Part One: Twins/Doppelgangers
Welcome to part one of a new series where we analyze some of the themes and secrets hidden inside The Forgotten Staircase.
For those who don't know, The Forgotten Staircase is a psychological horror novel inspired by my experience with and hospitalization from symptoms of complex PTSD. Fair warning: This book can be graphic, and scary at times. It deals with difficult topics which will be triggering to some readers. But it does so in an attempt to offer a glimpse into what it can feel like to suffer from this mostly hidden disorder.
Every character in the story has a twin or doppelganger. This was devised to not only show contrast, but also a sense of deja vu. This sensation is a reference to the novel's central theme, which is how childhood trauma and secrets can materialize in other ways throughout a person's life, like an echo.
As an example of this: the main character Jade's relationship with her psychiatrist mirrors in many ways her relationship with her mother. Both are financially successful, confident women, with dominant... almost masculine personalities and Jades experience with her mother informs her future relationships with women in positions of authority.
The contrast or difference is that Jade feels some compassion and even love from the doctor, something she longs to feel coming from her mother. This absence of maternal love leaves her vulnerable to manipulation by anyone who gives her attention and validation, especially if that person is the one in control.
The looping or deja vu effect comes in to play when Jade finds herself repeating the same patterns of abuse with the doctor that she experienced with her mother. It explores the vulnerability of adults who have had love withheld from them as children to abuse from other adults with bad intentions. This is one of the reasons that you see victims of child abuse sometimes be repeatedly revictimized by different people throughout their lives.
When you read the book, I'd love to hear your theories on which other characters are linked together in this way.
https://www.tiktok.com/@theforgottens...
For those who don't know, The Forgotten Staircase is a psychological horror novel inspired by my experience with and hospitalization from symptoms of complex PTSD. Fair warning: This book can be graphic, and scary at times. It deals with difficult topics which will be triggering to some readers. But it does so in an attempt to offer a glimpse into what it can feel like to suffer from this mostly hidden disorder.
Every character in the story has a twin or doppelganger. This was devised to not only show contrast, but also a sense of deja vu. This sensation is a reference to the novel's central theme, which is how childhood trauma and secrets can materialize in other ways throughout a person's life, like an echo.
As an example of this: the main character Jade's relationship with her psychiatrist mirrors in many ways her relationship with her mother. Both are financially successful, confident women, with dominant... almost masculine personalities and Jades experience with her mother informs her future relationships with women in positions of authority.
The contrast or difference is that Jade feels some compassion and even love from the doctor, something she longs to feel coming from her mother. This absence of maternal love leaves her vulnerable to manipulation by anyone who gives her attention and validation, especially if that person is the one in control.
The looping or deja vu effect comes in to play when Jade finds herself repeating the same patterns of abuse with the doctor that she experienced with her mother. It explores the vulnerability of adults who have had love withheld from them as children to abuse from other adults with bad intentions. This is one of the reasons that you see victims of child abuse sometimes be repeatedly revictimized by different people throughout their lives.
When you read the book, I'd love to hear your theories on which other characters are linked together in this way.
https://www.tiktok.com/@theforgottens...
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