Examples Of Voyeurism In Rear Window

In Rear Window, Alfred Hitchcock explores the ambiguous nature of voyeurism, yet argues human nature vindicates the “harm in looking”. To reel audiences into the debate, Hitchcock presents them with the commonplace, knee-jerk response to voyeurism for consideration. Situating the viewer into the cynical protagonist’s perspective, the structure of the set enables the audience to “look” from Jeff’s rear window into the screens of his neighbours as a source of entertainment. Yet, Hitchcock elucidates the consequences stagnant voyeurism has on a neighbourhood due to lack of care for “thy neighbour”. Conversely, Hitchcock challenges the vague idea of surveillance and its ethical implications through the MacGuffin murder mystery.

The structure

In this way, Hitchcock enables viewers to look into their “secret [and] private worlds” while Jeff sleeps. This purposeful approach presents the auteur’s argument that voyeurism is an unavoidable manifestation of human nature. The debate Hitchcock presents to viewers is whether “there’s no harm in looking”. As the panning shot glides through the village apartments in the opening sequence, showcasing each screen-like apartment, such as the one of Miss Torso, frolicking in her underwear to engross audiences in “Peeping tom” behaviour, setting the foundation for audiences to resonate with Jeff’s desire to “to find out what's the matter with the salesman's wife” later in the film. Alongside Jeff, the viewer looks through Jeff’s rear window with an expectation of entertainment. Through Jeff’s cynical standpoint, looking into the metaphorical screens of his neighbours conveniently addresses his need to escape his “swamp of boredom”. Yet, Hitchcock makes a point to challenge Jeff’s “rear window ethics” using the Kuleshov effect where Jeff and Lisa witness Miss

A MacGuffin is a plot device that drives the narrative forward but ultimately has little to no significance to the overall story. In Rear Window the murder mystery serves as the MacGuffin that motivates Jeff to become a voyeur and ultimately solves the crime. Initially, Hitchcock questions the limitations of perception and the harms of interpretation solely from “looking”. Through the embedded dialogue in Rear Window, Hitchcock conveys his various opinions on voyeurism and how it is unethical and dangerous, despite it being amusing. Stella’s warning to Jeff that the punishment “for a Peeping tom is six months in the workhouse” designates her disapproval, and to an extent, Hitchcock’s comment people “have become a race of Peeping toms”. Lieutenant Doyle reiterates the immoral nature of Jeff’s espial by reminding Jeff and the spectators “people do all sorts of things in private” that could not be explained in public. As a result, Doyle proposes the drama and misunderstanding that stems from prying on others, alluding to the consequences for the voyeur. However, the disappearance of “the salesman’s wife” draws Jeff away from looking as a means of pleasure, to desperately attempting to prove “Thorwald’s guilty.” This is how Hitchcock raises the question of whether it is “ethical for a man to look at another man” if it leads to uncovering criminal activity and bringing justice to the victim.