ipl-logo

Rear Window Essay

1067 Words5 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Rear window essays on voyeurism

1. Introduction
Rear Window is a 1954 crime thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and based on the novel by James M. Cain. The film stars James Stewart and Grace Kelly and tells the story of a man who is blackmailed into spying on his neighbours through their windows. The film is characterised by its visual narrative, which uses a variety of camera angles and movements to create a sense of suspense. Conflict and resolution are also important elements of the film, and it is set in a claustrophobic setting that contributes to the feeling of paranoia. The conclusion of the essay discusses the various elements of Rear Window and their impact on the overall plot.
2. Characterisation
The film Rear Window is about a man who is confined to a …show more content…

One neighbour, Pam, is constantly harassed by Jeff, who records her every move and conversation. Pam becomes so paranoid that she begins to suspect everyone around her of being spies, and she eventually becomes so isolated that she is unable to function in society. Another neighbour, Diane, is constantly spied on by Jeff from his window, and she begins to become paranoid that he is watching her in order to catch her in a compromising position. Diane eventually becomes so despondent that she moves away from her home …show more content…

The family must cope with their grief and the memories of their loved one, while trying to protect themselves from the killer.
5. Setting & Atmosphere
The rear window is set in a classic Americana home, complete with a large back yard and a view of the city. This establishes the home as a setting for the story. It is a setting where the protagonist, the victim, and the suspect all reside. This provides a sense of familiarity and allows the reader to get a sense of the character's personalities.
The voyeur is watching the lives of the people inside the home. This establishes the perspective of the story. The voyeur observes the people as they go about their daily lives, and is interested in their interactions and their movements. The voyeur is also interested in what is happening inside the home, and is able to see things that the people inside the home cannot see.
The home's atmosphere is one of serenity and calm, contrasting with the chaos and violence outside the window. This establishes the tone of the story. The home is a safe place where the family can relax and take a break from the outside

Show More
Related

How Does Hitchcock Create Tension In Rear Window

719 Words | 3 Pages

Rear Window is perhaps one greatest films in history. Directed by legendary film director Alfred Hitchcock, Rear Window is a mystery thriller based on the short story “It Had to Be Murder.” Rear Window tells of a photographer, Jeff, who had broken his leg in an accident. Confined to his apartment, he passes the time by looking out his window. During this time, he became obsessed with the theory that one of his neighbours, Thorwald, murdered his wife.

Read More

Judge Danforth And Abigail Williams In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

675 Words | 3 Pages

Ariel Medina C.L.I.M Mr.Zeko English 3 Period 4 6 December 2016 The Crucible “The Crucible” is based in real records taken during the Salem Witch Trials back during the late 17th century. Many people were unjustly hurt, imprisoned, and even killed during these times which show their rough moral structure. In the play “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller, Judge Danforth and Abigail Williams can be seen as the two characters most responsible for the death of fellow townsmen, John Proctor. Abigail could be seen as the cause of death of John Proctor because of her compulsive lying and her way of manipulating

Read More

Jacob Lawrence's This Is A Family Living In Harlem

506 Words | 3 Pages

The family shows signs of being part of either a low or poor class based off the conditions of the household they are living in and the bareness of their apartment. For instance, the dining room is extremely small and the kitchen seems old and worn out. Correspondingly, the family members seem to lack personality due to to the simple clothing they are wearing. However, the bright colors found interior of the home create a contrast between the dreary environment of the household. This helps convey the message that although the family may not be as economically stable and live a dull life, they still happily interact among one another and come together every evening to have a meal together.

Read More

Relationships In Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window

827 Words | 4 Pages

Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window has several themes. One major theme is relationships. The lead character, Jeff Jeffries, a photographer and committed bachelor, is involved in a relationship with Lisa Fremont, a model, although the relationship has some tension due to Jeff’s lack of commitment. When Jeff is confined to his apartment recovering from a broken leg, he begins spying through his rear window on his neighbors in a nearby apartment. Through her frequent visits, Lisa is drawn into this spying as well.

Read More

Archetypes In The Movie Hugo Cabret

954 Words | 4 Pages

The film reflects on the fact that the audience assumes the role of voyeurs to the screen exhibition because it plays on emotion through the character of Hugo and his

Read More

Ethical Issues In Rear Window

873 Words | 4 Pages

Rear Window Argues that people should mind their own business. Do you agree? Rear Window, a 1954 romance/murder-mystery by the renowned golden age director Alfred Hitchcock, is a film that explores a multitude of themes and genres through the voyeuristic gaze of protagonist L.B. Jefferies. Jefferies, or ‘Jeff’ as he commonly known throughout the film, is a middle-aged bachelor recently hospitalised due to his high-risk career as a photojournalist. This hindered condition serves as an important foundation on which the movie is built upon as Jeff’s forced lifestyle being in a wheelchair causes an abrupt stop in his usual high intensity way of life and causes him to quench his boredom in other ways, predominantly watching the other residents in his apartment complex through the ‘rear window’ of his apartment.

Read More

What Is The Controversy Of Rear Window

386 Words | 2 Pages

“Rear Window” has caused a lot of controversy ever since the Hitchcock movie hit theaters back in 1954. Rear Window is actually based on the short story, “It Had to Be Murder,” that was written by Cornell Woolrich. Years later Woolrich decided to sell the rights of this particular story to a newly production company. That production company later would sell the rights to the story to Hitchock and Stewart. They would later produce the movie known as “Rear Window.”

Read More

Rhetorical Language In Brave New World

916 Words | 4 Pages

John is an isolated man who prefers the peace and quiet of solitude, yet the author creates an image of an open and welcoming home. John’s unlocked door leaves him exposed, and it allows anyone to come in and badger him. This uncharacterized action done by John leaves the reader feeling anxious to what is happening to John for him to be so open with the society he tried so hard to escape. The imagery juxtaposes John’s character as a recluse, and leaves the reader feeling apprehensive about John’s state. Moreover, as the reporters enter John’s home, they “[walk] into a shuttered twilight”.

Read More

Symbolism And Motifs In Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window

672 Words | 3 Pages

Rear Window by Alfred Hitchcock is a fillm full of symbolism and motifs that provides viewers with a bigger meaning. It shows these rhetorical appeals through Hitchcok’s eyes that would not be recognized if not analyzed. Through these appeals I have recognized the window as being a symbol and marriage and binoculars as motifs. After understanding much more than what the eye anitially sees when viewing this film there is a fine line between understanding what is going on in the film and observing what the protagonist Jeff is viewing.

Read More

Anxiety And Suspense In Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window

973 Words | 4 Pages

In the 1954 film, Rear Window, Alfred Hitchcock uses the depicted sequence of frames to evoke feelings of anxiety and suspense in the audience by portraying an invasion of privacy and the fear of being caught breaking that boundary that society tends to cherish and protect. When assessed individually, the chosen frames provide a partial, but incomplete evocation of suspense. In the first of the two frames, the audience is outside looking into an apartment building with three people in view, none of whom are composed in a way that would suggest they know where the others in the building are. Additionally, the woman on the upper floor is smiling and waving in the direction of the audience. Coon explains that Hitchcock draws on “societal anxieties

Read More

Jury Of Her Peers Essay

1217 Words | 5 Pages

Similarly, it allows them to gain an intimate understanding of her inner thoughts, emotions, and beliefs, which we don’t get with the rest of the characters. This perspective becomes evident as the story begins in her home and continues to follow her through the Wrights’ house and murder investigation. Mrs. Hale’s observations, which were presented through her eyes, introduced valuable insights to the investigation that were often overlooked by the males. While the story occasionally offers glimpses of the other characters’ perspectives, such as Mrs. Peters, they are only portrayed with an objective lens, and their thoughts are only explained through their dialogue and interactions with the other characters rather than delving into their internal emotions and thoughts. The inclusion of Mrs. Peters perspective is crucial as it adds depth and complexity to the narrative, revealing the evolving dynamic between Mrs. Hale and herself, while simultaneously providing readers with a deeper understanding of the internal conflicts women faced at the time.

Read More

Camera Narration In The Movie 'Rear' Window

765 Words | 4 Pages

Camera narration is crucial to the effect the movie has on its audience. It is noticed that the viewer rarely gets close to the apartments or characters across the courtyard. The viewpoint is mainly fixed to Jeff’s apartment, apart from a few occasions where the camera plunges out of the window. The fronts of the buildings facing the main street are never shown either; instead all of the action takes place within the mystery and secrecy of the backyard, hence the title name ‘Rear’ Window. Perhaps Hitchcock realised that many people would not behave the same way in their front facing windows.

Read More

Rear Window Essay

553 Words | 3 Pages

Rear Window (1984) directed by Alfred Hitchcock depicts an injured and house-ridden photographer peering out into the local neighbourhood and discovering something gruesome. The film explores many themes such as voyeurism and morality in a grey light that leaves the audience unclear of what morals the film suggests. However, Rear Window morals strongly suggest that individuals must not delve into the personal affairs of others. Characters in the film such as Tom Doyle and Stella provide a voice of reason to L. B. Jefferies, or commonly called ‘Jeff’, as to why he should not be so invested into the lives of others and instead, mind to his own. The ethics into the way Jeff is looking into the lives of others in addition to the films message.

Read More

Social Isolation In Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window

1225 Words | 5 Pages

Alfred Hitchcock 's Rear Window explores the lives of those who feel isolated within society. The 1954 film, set in the tenements of Grenwich village, depicts those who are incapable of fitting into society 's expectations, as well as those who feel isolated from common interaction with others. Moreover, Hitchcock displays how its human nature to seek comfort and deeper connection even with those who are surrounded by others. Despite depicting characters as lonely, the progression of the film illustrates how individuals can be freed from isolation. The director asserts the loneliness and struggle that comes from fitting into social mores.

Read More

Examples Of Gothic Elements In The Fall Of The House Of Usher

1669 Words | 7 Pages

Additionally , the house that the narrator mentions is illustrated as “ mansion of gloom “ which might be a sign that the aura of the house has something dreadful in it. However , the Narrator reveals something important about his first impression for the house by saying “ I looked upon the scene before me , upon the mere house, upon the bleak walls , upon the vacant eye-like windows ( 3 ).To illustrate , the words such as “ air of heaven , silent tarn , mystic vapor “ used as a reinforcement for making the ambience of the house as gloomy. In fact , in the light of these facts , it could be said that the house has an darkness appearance which might be an indication of its mysterious atmosphere.

Read More

More about Rear Window Essay

Related Topics

Open Document