Christopher Nolan’s Prestige and The Borden Twins

Introduction

In The Prestige by Christopher Nolan, two magicians, named Robert Angier and Alfred Borden, have an ongoing feud that was caused by the death of one of Angier's wives. This then leads to a rivalry over who can create the greatest trick, and it seems that Alfred had won that title. He devised a trick called "The Teleporting Man," in which he would step inside one box and magically emerge from another. It is revealed later that Alfred had an identical twin brother named Fallon Borden; they performed the trick together. The two Borden brothers have very different personalities, depicting emotions, joy, and anger; these emotions symbolize the greater need for emotions to be integrated rather than being separated into individuals.

Family Dynamics

Alfred and Fallon Borden are men who try to live the lives they both want, but their work relations sometimes negatively affect their personal lives. Alfred chose the family path; he married the love of his life and had a daughter. However, having two brothers switching between their lives usually causes complications. When Fallon lived with Alfred’s wife, he was always angry and emotionally detached because he didn’t love her. This causes many problems between Alfred and his wife, disrupting the normally joyful atmosphere. Alfred’s wife and daughter both symbolize the joys that make up one of the Borden brother’s lives. Although joy is generally considered a happy emotion, it still needs another part to make it complete. The film intricately explores the duality of their lives and highlights the sacrifices each brother makes to sustain their illusion, suggesting a deeper commentary on identity and the human condition (Nolan, 2006).

Fallon Borden: The Troubled Twin

Fallon Borden is viewed as the "not so good" brother by the viewers. In the film, Fallon seems to be either the fire starter or the fuel to the fire of problems that occur throughout the movie. When Angier’s wife died, Fallon was the one who accidentally killed her, thinking that the way he performed the trick would work, only for it to go drastically wrong, creating problems for the other brother. In the film, he is shown drinking and yelling, which leads viewers to dislike him more than the other brother. Fallon is full of confidence and strength, traits that are shown to not always be good when concentrated in one person. The film uses Fallon as a vehicle to explore themes of ambition, guilt, and the darker aspects of human nature, pushing the boundaries of moral and ethical dilemmas faced by individuals consumed by rivalry (Nolan, 2006).

Conclusion

In conclusion, when separated from each other, the two Borden brothers have qualities that cannot exist apart. When they are by themselves, it seems that only bad things happen. This leads watchers to see that two people with different personalities shouldn’t be confined to separate boxes. Joy and anger need to come together and create one person; it will then create the harmony needed for a balanced human being. The film ultimately suggests that the integration of opposing qualities is essential for personal growth and harmony, a message that resonates deeply within the narrative (Nolan, 2006).

References

Nolan, C. (Director). (2006). The Prestige [Film]. Touchstone Pictures.