Well, there's 'The Comedy of Errors' by William Shakespeare. It's filled with confusion due to mistaken identities of two sets of twins, leading to all sorts of hilarious situations.
One of the first such stories might be 'Cinderella'. The stepsisters mistake Cinderella for someone of lesser importance until she shows up at the ball in all her glory.
The key elements in the first mistaken identity story are misinformation and perception. If there's misinformation floating around, like wrong names or false descriptions, it can easily lead to a mistaken identity. Perception also matters. People might see what they expect to see rather than what's actually there. For example, if they expect a certain type of person in a certain place, they might misidentify someone who doesn't fit that expectation. And of course, the actions that follow the misidentification, like the reactions of other characters, are also key elements.
The first mistaken identity story could vary greatly depending on different cultures and literatures. In general, it might involve two characters being wrongly identified as each other. For example, in some classic plays, a servant might be mistaken for a nobleman due to similar appearances. This often leads to a series of comical or dramatic situations, like misunderstandings in conversations, wrong decisions being made based on the false identity, and chaos in relationships. It's a very common plot device used to create interesting storylines.
There was this time at the airport. A woman saw a man with a similar suitcase to hers. She followed him all the way to the car rental area thinking he was her husband. When he finally turned around, she realized her mistake. She was so embarrassed but it was really funny. The man just laughed it off and helped her find her actual husband.
One consequence could be embarrassment. Just like in the stories where a man hugs or kisses the wrong woman thinking she is his wife. It can be a really awkward situation for everyone involved.
Once upon a time, there was a man named Jack. He went on a business trip. When he returned, he saw a woman in his house who he thought was his wife at first glance. But as he talked to her, he realized she was his wife's twin sister he had never met before. She was there to surprise his wife but ended up causing this moment of mistaken identity.
Once upon a time, in a small town, there were two men named Tom. One was a kind-hearted baker and the other was a sly thief. One day, the baker Tom was walking in the market when a woman saw him and screamed. She thought he was the thief Tom. The baker was confused as she dragged him to the police. He tried to explain but no one believed him at first. Eventually, his regular customers came to his rescue, vouching for his character. The real thief was later caught and the baker learned to always carry some proof of his identity.
One great one is 'The Duke and I' by Julia Quinn. It has elements of mistaken identity that add to the charm of the romance. The female lead is misidentified in a way that leads to some really interesting interactions with the duke.
A key characteristic of the best mistaken identity novels is the element of confusion. This can be created through similar appearances, as in the case of 'The Comedy of Errors'. When characters look alike, it becomes easy for other characters and the readers to mistake one for the other, which leads to a lot of misunderstandings and plot twists.
One common theme is the search for truth. Since there is a mistake in identity, the character has to strive to find out the real truth about who they are and who the real person is that they are being mistaken for. Another theme is justice. Often, the wrongly - identified person is facing some sort of injustice, like false accusations, and they are fighting for justice.
One idea could be a character attending a party and being mistaken for someone else who's supposed to have a big secret to reveal.