Meanings of the Visionary Figure of the Inner Double in Le Syndrome du Schaphandrier, a Science-Fiction novel by Serge Brussolo

Abstract

David Sarella, the protagonist of this novel, suffers from a personality disorder which is divided into two opposite polari-ties: on the one hand, his true existence in the real world, as a mediocre employee of the Art Department, proves to be insuffi-cient; on the other hand, he senses the call of the inexhaustible fantasy of the world of dreams which he can access thanks to his special powers. In order to reach this dimension, David has to drown in the water depths where he acquires a new identity as the leader of a band of robbers, which satisfies him fully. This personality disorder, which is a variation of the theme of the inner double, is here given the name of «diver syndrome».