Rear Window

The relationship between Jeffries and Lisa can be closely examined by their reactions to the different occupants of the apartments that can be viewed. Miss Torso is a buxom woman who dances the tune of seduction even if she does not intend it. Jeffries can’t help but gaze at her like a teenage boy her first set his eyes on sex symbol of Hollywood. He makes different inferences about her life. His conclusions are compared to the conclusions Lisa. We are given two different conclusions as to what is going on with Miss Torso. It was revealing that Lisa gives credit to some of the things Jeffries says since she infers that she was once like Miss Torso. The reaction of Jeffries face was a point of comedy but gave insight into the relationship between Jeffries and Lisa.

Miss Lonely hearts’s life made Jeffries comment to Lisa that they should be thankful not to be cursed with a lonely existence. It is hard not to feel sympathy for a woman who has dinner with herself. The audience witnessed a man come into Miss Jeffries home. She is attacked and forces her attacker out of the house. A stunning occurance happens when she swallows pills in an attempt to kill herself.

The characters lonely life makes Jeffries and Lisa look into their own lives. They both wonder what is their relationship to loneliness. Jeffries seems fine with the status quo of keeping Lisa around only when he needs her. However, Lisa desires for something more; an emotional connection and maybe marriage and children. The uneven desires of both parties serves as a source of conflict that provides tension to the audience. It is as if the murder mystery unfolding before the audiences eyes is only a soundtrack to the drama between Jeffries and Lisa. The pink elephant is whether Jeffries will commit to Lisa or not. Even the ending, which shows a Lisa with a smile of content, makes one wonder if the status quo is continuing or has Jeffries finally allowed for a committed relationship.

The composer serves as comic relief for the most part. The character brings in his frustrations as an artist. Many displays of frustration are seen in the movie. We are treated to the composer playing a song for an audience. The composer does make the song of love and companionship far more appealing to Lisa who reacts positively. Lisa’s reaction to the composer is something constant through out the film and can’t be found as a reaction to the composer alone.

 The newlyweds showed Lisa and Jeffries as they could be if they were to marry. The bliss of the wedding day, wedding night and getting an apartment together shows the bliss of the couple. Eventually, reality sets in and the day to day of seeing the same wife, hearing the same sounds and seeking an escape from the monotony of marriage leads the newly minted husband to open a window and grab a smoke. He is sent back to earth as the sounds of a wife bring him back to the arena he is trying to escape, even if only for a few minutes. The relationship of the newlyweds can draw a parallel to how life could potentially turn out for Jeffries and Lisa if they chose to marry. Lisa would be in marital bliss but Jeffries would want out from time to time despite the happiness he would have in a relationship with Lisa. It is inevitable that once attraction is gone the caring of two partners must supersede the desire to see if the grass is greener elsewhere but it is a desire that Jeffries may not be ready to relinquish.

The Thorwalds are the dark side of Jeffries and Lisa. Lisa is a woman who nags while Jeffries is a man who desire to “shut her up.” It is one potential conclusion between the couple that is more akin to Jeffries who allows for morbid observation as opposed to Lisa who prefers to keep her feminine innocence by not speaking such evil. There is not enough evidence to conclude whether Jeffries could actually commit murder of Lisa;however, given his desire to be free and the cumbersome nature of marriage and monogamy, he may seek a way out, even if that means the death of someone he loves.

Overall, the movie investigates many areas of relationships. Man’s relationship to nature, love, evil and justice are explored in the movie. It is arguably one of Hitchcock’s finest and displays his talent not only as a director but a story teller as well. Lisa and Jeffries future is left up to chance but the film allows many interpretations to be drawn, all of them equally valid. 

King Lear

Coppelia Kahn’s observed Lear’s display of emotions after taking in Cordiella’s death near the end of King Lear and concluded that Lear had embraced his inner feminine. The argument comes through observation of Lear operating in a patriarchal society where gender roles are fully in place and any veering away from traditional expressions of gender is cause for concern, especially in regards to one’s masculinity or femininity.

I feel the discussion on what is masculine and feminine is very complex now that we are in a post-feminist world where traditional male roles are now available for women. The mentioning of feminism and the femininity of Lear is an interesting observation but I am confused as to what Kahn is getting at. For instance, she mentions that Lear shedding tears involves him embracing his inner feminine, an example of him feeling and having empathy. Men feel and cry just like women do. Some men may do it more often than others but all men cry, despite some openly denying an instance of crying in their lives. Understanding that, I find it hard to accept that Lear is embracing his inner feminine because he decided to cry having witnessed the death of his favorite daughter. Michael Corleone cried out in pain and agony when his daughter was gunned down at the end of the Godfather III. Was Michael embracing his inner feminine despite having the arguably the most patriarchal position in his personal and criminal family ever obtained?  I can’t say that her thesis is flawed given my disagreement with her on this point. I will say that if she is to argue the case for King Lear getting in touch with his maternal side she needs to do it understanding emotional displays should not be limited by gender roles.