Manipulation Of Gender Roles In Rear Window

In Alfred Hitchcock’s film Rear Window a theme of gender roles is prevalent, more specifically the male understanding of the female, and the female manipulation of this understanding. This relation is most dominant in Jeff and Lisa’s relationship, where Jeff wants to conform Lisa into a product of his fantasy in which he is superior and the protector of Lisa. However, Jeff’s goal is only partially reached because of Lisa’s mental manipulation of Jeff. This alteration can best be seen in the scenes when Lisa first appears in Jeff’s apartment, when Lisa enters Thorwald’s apartment, and in the final scene of the movie.

In the scene where we are first introduced to a beautiful, carefree Lisa, Lisa gently wakes Jeff up by simply looking at him. Here Lisa is bathed in the glow of soft light looking angelic and embodies the perfection that Jeff is intimidated by in her. Jeff sees Lisa as the better one of the two of them, whic

The scene where Lisa’s dominance is established is when after digging in the garden her and Stella fail to find any evidence for Mrs.Thorwald’s assumed murder. Lisa takes it upon herself to climb up the fire escape, a very unfeminine action, and personally search Thorwald’s apartment. Watching this Jeff gets upset and wants her to stop, however she continues to look for evidence. Jeff’s opposition to Lisa’s action is a direct contradiction to the wish that she were more rugged and able to travel the world. While searching the apartment she does find evidence, however, conveniently for both Lisa and Jeff, the police catch Lisa, now Jeff has an opportunity to be the rescuer, the dominant member of the relationship. I say this is convenient for Lisa as well because she is able to both succeed at finding evidence, showing Jeff’s failure to do so, and be rescued by Jeff, allowing him to play a masculine role.

By Lisa’s manipulation on Jeff into believing that Lisa is

Some topics in this essay:
Laura Mulvery, Harpers Bazaar, Lisa Jeff, Lisa Jeff’s, Watching Jeff, Lisa Lisa, Rear Window, Jeff Lisa, Jeff Lisa’s, Himalayas Lisa, final scene, rear window, jeff’s apartment, thorwald’s apartment, lisa’s manipulation, manipulation jeff, lisa jeff, evidence jeff’s, fire escape, gender roles,