ipl-logo

It Had To Be Murder By Cornell Woolrich

577 Words3 Pages

In Cornell Woolrich's intriguing short story "It Had to Be Murder" and its cinematic adaptation Rear Window, the exploration of observation unveils the intricate layers of human behavior and the ethical dilemmas that arise from closely scrutinizing others without their consent. Both narratives center around a protagonist who, confined to a wheelchair, becomes engrossed in watching his neighbors through a window, convinced that he has witnessed a murder. This act of intense observation, while inherently invasive and socially taboo, serves as a lens through which Woolrich and Hitchcock delve into the morally ambiguous facets of human curiosity and the allure of peering into private lives. Woolrich's narrative technique in the short story immerses …show more content…

Alfred Hitchcock's cinematic adaptation of Rear Window maintains this psychological tension by visually presenting the protagonist, L.B. Jefferies' intense observation of his neighbors. The montage of different apartment windows weaves together a tapestry of urban lives unfolding simultaneously, enticing viewers to join Jefferies in scrutinizing and forming judgments. Hitchcock ingeniously uses the camera to simulate Jefferies' perspective, inviting the audience to participate in the act of close observation. We become complicit in his watching, our own curiosity piqued by the tantalizing snippets we glimpse. Yet, Hitchcock deftly subverts our assumptions with instances of dramatic irony—like the provocative dancer revealed to be a

Open Document