IN the town there were two mutes, and they were always together. Early every morning they would come out from the house where they lived and walk arm in arm down the street to work. 【同】

The two friends were very different. 【异】The one who always steered the way was an obese and dreamy Greek. In the summer he would come out wearing a yellow or green polo shirt stuffed sloppily into his trousers in front and hanging loose behind. When it was colder he wore over this a shapeless gray sweater. His face was round and oily, with half-closed eyelids and lips that curved in a gentle, stupid smile. The other mute was tall. His eyes had a quick, intelligent expression. He was always immaculate and very soberly dressed.

对子组合，与美洲印第安人神话传统中的双胞胎兄弟原型接合。且这也是世界性母题，比如堂吉诃德与桑丘·潘沙，悟空与悟能，高兴与五福，卓别林或巴斯特·基顿喜剧中与之配对的高个子丑角，中国戏剧中的书生与书童，卡夫卡笔下约瑟夫K的两个助手。最早还可追溯到耶稣十字架上的两个强盗，耶稣传道途中收留的门徒中的两兄弟，庄子畸人，《红楼梦》中的一僧一道，《等待戈多》中的两个流浪汉。中国英雄故事中如杨六郎的孟良焦赞、岳飞马前张保马后王横、宋江与李逵、武松与武大郎、水浒传中的诸孔明孔亮等兄弟，《封神演义》中比比皆是。《加勒比海盗》中瘦子与胖子海盗。

其变体就是老人与孩子。

还有变体就是高个子女人与矮丈夫。

再变体就是变异，如变形记、弗兰肯斯坦或海德博士以及今天好莱坞类型电影等等。