Why use instance variables what is a point? Also, why set that instance variable to the same thing without the @ symbol

Not sure exactly what you mean by your example - I'd have to see the full code. However, instance variables have a number of uses. The main benefit of instance variables is to do with scope.

class MyClass
  def method1
    local_variable = "hello"
  end

  def method2
    puts local_variable
  end
end

my_class = MyClass.new #creates an instance of MyClass and assigns it to a variable, my_class
my_class.method1 #assign the string 'hello' to a local variable, local_variable.

my_class.method2

=> NameError: undefined local variable or method `local_variable' for MyClass:0x00000001581cf8

local_variable 's scope is limited to method1 - it is only accessible from inside method1

class MyClass
  def method1
    @instance_variable = "hello"
  end

  def method2
    puts @instance_variable
  end
end

my_class = MyClass.new
my_class.method1

my_class.method2
hello      #'puts' prints the value of the instance variable, @instance_variable, and then:

=> nil #returns nil ('puts' always returns nil).

@instance_variable is accessible from inside method2.

This is just one example of an instance variable's scope.

A common use of instance variables in Ruby is to use them inside a class's initialize method, along with an attr_reader, to allow something like:

some_class = SomeClass.new
some_class.some_instance_variable

=> "a value"

For example:

class MyIdentity
  attr_reader :source

  def initialize
    @source = "Primarily my childhood and later shaped by hedonistic experiences and time abroad doing a lot of cool and crazy shit"
  end
end

my_identity = MyIdentity.new #when the class is instantiated, the initialize method is run automatically.
my_identity.source

=> "Primarily my childhood and later shaped by hedonistic experiences and time abroad doing a lot of cool and crazy shit"

For further reading, check this out, and for an explanation of attr_reader (and also check out attr_writer and attr_accessor), Google is your friend ;-)