Thread: Crossing Two Similar Characters in A Story

I came across this book called Miriam,not the Miriam in the biblical account, the prophetess,but this Miriam by Truman Capote.


''a classic story of loneliness''
the introductionis this:
"Miriam" is about a 61-year-old widow named Mrs. H. T. Miller who wants to spend the remaining years of her life alone in her apartment near the East River after the death of her husband, H. T. Miller. She is very lonely, has no friends to speak of and does not keep in touch with any of her relatives.
One day, going into a movie theater, she meets a young, intelligent girl named Miriam. Mrs. Miller is intrigued due to the fact that her first name is also Miriam. The girl Miriam asks Mrs. Miller to buy her a movie .


the question is

would two exact characters be it by name/age/appearance/background within a story?

If Truman Capote can do it then I don't see why not! But I think that any very similar aspects between two characters ought to have some significance to the story.

Originally Posted by yingguoren

If Truman Capote can do it then I don't see why not! But I think that any very similar aspects between two characters ought to have some significance to the story.

in what ways?
I am struggling to see it?
two female characters,same name, trying to cross read between the two bearing in mind they called the same name must be a hell of a read.

Maybe it can be useful if you're trying to display a sense of similarity; perhaps the reader intends it to be confusing.

But yeah, it would be a nightmare to read. It's an interesting technique, but not one that would personally keep me interested.