r/writers • u/Present_Benefit_1085 Writer Newbie • 3d ago

Question Looking for refences about a "Split" character (2 Souls fighting in 1 body)

Hello! I'm currently working on unique character idea I had but I'm struggling on how to describe/depict the situation. This is not a quite a multiple personality disorder. Characters like Moonknight haven't helped me much.

(Soul and Consciousness are interchangeable here) The idea is that the original soul of a body was forcibly put to rest and a new soul, with no memories takes control of the body and is unaware of the other soul entirely. Over time I plan to have the original soul slowly awaken and fight for control of the body. I think certain triggers would be smart to have, that would cause the original soul to react in small ways at first but gains more influence over time. Eventually having episodes of mental instability as the two fight for control. The two have completely different goals and personalities and can't be "fused". Once the original soul is awake but not in control it'd pull punches or fight certain actions the other soul is performing. The new soul would eventually become aware of the other soul one way or another and would have to manage it for the rest of the story.

I just was wondering if there any characters/stories y'all know about that I could use as refence for the situation. Thanks for your time!

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u/Terminator7786 Fiction Writer 3d ago

I know you said it's not multiple personalities, but you should read The Minds of Billy Milligan. He did have dissociative identity disorder, but the book also talks about triggers that would bring out a personality or create a new one.

It also talks about how all the personalities, were for lack of a better word, fused (it's been a long time since I've read it) into one personality called The Teacher that had the memories of all the personalities and knew of their actions.

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u/BoneCrusherLove 3d ago

To add another recommendation here, indie book and not well known but Fractured Souls by Tyler Nixon

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u/chippyndippy 3d ago

The Host - Stephanie Meyer

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u/TheDanishThede 3d ago

Have you read The Host by Stephanie Meyer (yes, her. But hear me out), it's better written than Twilight and the main plot is two souls fighting over one body. I hate Twilight but The Host is one of my favorite books.